Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has claimed that an official of the DR Congo was engaged in “voodoo” rituals in the course of the penalty shootout of Sunday’s CAF World Cup qualifying playoff final.
The Super Eagles hopes of reaching next year’s FIFA World Cup was ended after they lost 4-3 on penalties to DR Congo. The game was decided via penalties after regulation time and extra time ended 1-1.
But the aftermath of the tie was followed by tense scenes on the touchline, with Chelle visibly angry as both benches went at each other after Chancel Mbemba converted the decisive kick.
Chelle explained that he was angered after noticing a DR Congo official making suspicious hand movements and pouring an unknown substance believed to be voodoo whenever a Super Eagles player was about to take his kick.
“During the penalty session, a guy of Congo did some voodoo. Every time, every time, every time,” Chelle said to ESPN Africa. “So, this is why I was a little bit nervous after him.”
When asked what exactly he saw, the Malian replied:“Something like—” he gestured with his hands—“I don’t know if it’s water or something like that.”
Also Read: We Knew If We Keep Osimhen Quiet We Will Beat Nigeria –DR Congo Star, Sadiki
To get to the playoffs final the Super Eagles thrashed Gabon 4-1 after extra-time while DR Congo edged out Cameroon 1-0.
The Super Eagles got off to a perfect start after Frank Onyeka’s deflected strike ended in the back of the net.
But in the 32nd minute DR Congo equalised through Mechak Elia after Alex Iwobi was dispossessed of the ball in the midfield.
The Super Eagles had to play the second half and extra-time without talisman Victor Osimhen who went off injured.
After both teams failed to find the winner the game went to penalty shootout with the Congolese coming out tops.
The Congolese will now take part at next year’s intercontinental playoffs for a chance to make a first World Cup appearance since their debut at the 1974 edition in the former West Germany.
By James Agberebi
5 Comments
We lost because of 7 factors:
1. DRC came with a game plan to mark Osimhen out and possibly get him injured. As far as they’re concerned, a player who’s responsible for 60% of Nigeria’s goals in the entire WCQs is the main threat. Take him out, and SE is half strength. They achieved that, and Chelle was forced to sub him.
2. Chelle fashioned out a winning team in the extra time of the Gabon match and should have continued with it, a 4-4-2 with Akor and Osimhen leading the lines.
3. We need a more traditional Number 10 playmaker. Iwobi thrives more on the wings like he plays in Fulham. He’s not the best fit in that role. He doesn’t like tackles and loses the ball easily to more physical or aggressive African players.
4. Not sure why our defence lines yesterday were a bit sluggish and porous. Bassey and Fredrick left their lines prior to that equalizer.
5. Ajayi is still a bit rusty, and comparing his performance with Osayi’s in the first match, Osayi should probably have been retained.
6. Arokodare doesn’t seem to have a sense of urgency and is always smiling. There was a glorious chance he should have left for Akor. He attempts shots and headers that he knows he has little or no chance of putting away, rather than leave it for a better-placed player. Akor and even Onuachu are more mature strikers.
7. DRC was playing for penalties, reason they brought in a fresh goalkeeper for the task. Nigeria, on the other hand, didn’t practice penalties. They were hoping to win in normal time, which explains why 3 players lost their spot kicks. Compared it to the Afcon Semi when Paseiro prepared the team for penalties, having seen how SA beat Cape Verde in the QF via shootouts.
8. Nwabali really tried to save the team. He made so many stops, including in the penalties, that I was shocked. When the shootout started, we had no strikers to take the spot kicks. Ordinarily, Bassey and Ajayi had no business being queued up for penalties, except perhaps Ekong, whom Cheless should have brought in rather than Awaziem.
I am not surprised at this from Chelle – these DR Congo people are very well known for such things – and Nigeria, being Nigerians would have been completely oblivious of the fact if Chelle had not noticed.
If that is what they did, then they will not make it through the final round of playoffs – that one is for sure, and would be a better fate for them, because if they do, a more worse fate may be waiting to befall them, for this evil and depraved act!
God see everything, nothing is hidden from the Most High.
Nigerians, behold your coach….!!!
How did we even end up with this tactically bankrupt dude……???
Voodoo is the reason you were tactically shackled for 100 minutes and couldn’t get yourself out too….???!
Ogbeni, we dont beleive in things like that, they simply out play your guys.
Voodoo would have helped one of african teams to win world cup, If those things were real.
Beleive this rubbish at your own peril.
You want to tell us that they out play us abi?
Chelle sharrraaap there!!!!
I’m still surprised as per what Chelle was thinking during yesterday’s match. We played the entire 2nd half and 30 extra time meeting playing like a team that has lost 2 of its players to red cards. It looked as though we were playing against Spain, England or Argentina. You removed Ademola Lookman, the only other person who is feared for his exploits in the 18 yard box, even after losing Osimhen to an injury. God did everything to make us qualify for this world cup, but we just decided to squander it every time. see you at the AFCON.