A blame game has emerged in Nigeria following the Super Eagles’ defeat to DR Congo in the final playoffs for the 2026 World Cup qualifier.
The loss has left many Nigerians feeling upset, with criticism directed at head coach Eric Chelle for substituting key players like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, which fans believe contributed to the team’s defeat in Sunday’s match.
In reaction to the defeat, Coach Chelle has also accused DR Congo players of using ‘voodoo’ during the penalty shootout that led to their victory.
Facebook user Ojoarome Andrew Amen commented: “Lol, there’s no excuse for our loss; voodoo had nothing to do with it.”
Another user, Lawal Abiodun Olembe, stated that “the coach weakened the Nigerian team in the second half by removing all the attacking players. Why?”
Michael Williams added on Facebook, “this coach hasn’t rebuilt anything. This current team is nowhere near the one that played in last year’s AFCON.
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“He’s not coaching; he’s just relying on the players’ performance and luck. There’s no playing style, no tactics, no backup plan, no reform. They need to fire him.”
After the defeat, Chelle confronted the DR Congo bench before being escorted away by his staff.
In a statement to reporters, Chelle claimed, “during all the penalties, the Congo players were engaging in some voodoo.”
DR Congo triumphed 4-3 in the penalty shootout held in Morocco, advancing to the World Cup 2026 inter-confederation playoffs in March and ending the Super Eagles’ hopes of participating in next summer’s expanded tournament.
Nigeria initially took the lead just three minutes into the match with a deflected strike from Frank Onyeka that beat goalkeeper Lionel M’Pasi, but Meschack Elia equalized before halftime.
The match remained tied after 90 minutes and an additional 30 minutes of extra time, leading to a shootout where Chancel Mbemba scored the decisive penalty.
With this defeat, Nigeria’s World Cup aspirations have come to an end.
