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Congo stunned the Super Eagles, winning on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Éric Chelle accused a Congo staff of voodoo.
News18
The SuperEagles may be beating themselves up for not brushing up on their ‘Defense Against The Dark Arts’ pointers, before their match-up against Congo last night.
Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup hopes ended in a stunning, chaotic fashion — and not just because of a dramatic penalty shootout.
After Congo beat the Super Eagles on penalties in Sunday’s African playoff final, Nigeria coach Éric Chelle claimed a Congo staff member was using voodoo during the shootout. Yes, really.
Chelle, visibly agitated on the touchline, was seen confronting the Congo bench. After the match, he explained why he reacted that way.
“The guy from Congo did some voodoo,” Chelle told reporters. “Every time, every time, every time… so this is why I was a little nervous about him.”
“During all the penalties, the guy from DR Congo did some voodoo.”Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle explains why tempers flared between him and the DR Congo staff at the end of the World Cup playoff final. pic.twitter.com/nMyTIcqlTT
— ESPN Africa (@ESPNAfrica) November 17, 2025
When asked to clarify, he mimicked someone shaking a water bottle, suggesting that was part of the “ritual.”
A Brutal Exit for Nigeria
The drama overshadowed what was already a painful night for Nigeria.
The match finished 1-1 after extra time, with the Super Eagles losing despite boasting star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman — both in their prime.
Osimhen exited injured in the first half, Lookman was subbed off late, and Nigeria ultimately failed to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup.
Congo’s Masterstroke: A 119th-Minute GK Swap
Congo coach Sebastien Desabre made the boldest call of the night, swapping goalkeepers in the 119th minute, sending on Timothy Fayulu specifically for the shootout.
Fayulu, a Geneva-born keeper on loan from Swiss club Sion to Armenian champions Noah, has been a regular in the UEFA Conference League this season and is now a national hero.
The move worked to perfection.
Fayulu saved two of Nigeria’s six penalties, including Moses Simon’s second attempt and Semi Ajayi’s sixth, before Chancel Mbemba buried the winner.
Congo Marches On
Congo will enter the intercontinental playoffs, with the six-team draw set for Thursday. They’ll join Bolivia, New Caledonia, Iraq/UAE, and two CONCACAF sides still to be decided.
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
November 17, 2025, 6:24 PM IST
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