Nigeria falls to DR Congo as coach alleges 'voodoo' interference

Nigeria's 2026 World Cup dream collapsed heartbreakingly on Sunday night as the Super Eagles fell 4-3 to DR Congo in a tense penalty shootout, but it was a dramatic touchline incident involving Nigeria's coach, Eric Sekou Chelle, that ignited the biggest storm online.

A now-viral clip captured Chelle in a visibly agitated moment just before the decisive penalty.

The video shows him reaching for a water bottle and gesturing sharply toward a member of DR Congo's technical bench, appearing to react to something unfolding on the Congolese side.

In his post-match interview, Chelle explained the source of his frustration.

"During all the penalty sessions, the guy from Congo did some voodoo every time... so this is why I was a little nervous after him," he said.

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Using hand gestures, Chelle described seeing a man "sprinkling some liquid from a bottle," an act he said unsettled him throughout the shootout.

The fiery exchange became an unexpected subplot to a match worthy of a playoff final.

Nigeria struck early before DR Congo equalised shortly before halftime.

The two sides battled through 120 intense minutes, trading chances but unable to break the 1-1 deadlock.

The contest ultimately headed to penalties, where the Leopards held their nerve in sudden death to claim a historic win.

The defeat leaves Nigeria stunned and empty-handed, their World Cup journey ending far earlier than expected.

For DR Congo, the victory is momentous.

The Leopards, whose last World Cup appearance came in 1974 when the nation competed as Zaire, now advance to the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico next March. There, they will join Bolivia, New Caledonia and other qualifiers in a six-team battle for a coveted place at the 2026 global showpiece.

Nigeria's elimination marks a painful setback for a team that had set its sights firmly on reclaiming its place at football's biggest stage.