Football: Nigeria coach accuses Congo of “voodoo” during penalty shootout

Turin, 17 Nov. (LaPresse/AP) – Nigeria coach Éric Chelle claims that a member of the Congolese national team’s staff used voodoo during the penalty shootout that knocked Nigeria out of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Congo won the African playoff final on penalties, thanks to two saves by the reserve goalkeeper who came on in extra time after the 1-1 draw. Congo qualified for the intercontinental play-offs next March. Chelle was filmed during the penalty shootout gesticulating towards the Congo coaching staff. The former Mali international justified his behaviour to reporters after the match, saying, ‘A guy from Congo did voodoo on every penalty kick, that’s why I was a little nervous.’ Nigeria failed to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup, despite having world-class strikers such as Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. On Thursday, FIFA will draw the six teams for the intercontinental play-offs. Congo will be joined by Bolivia, New Caledonia, Iraq or the United Arab Emirates and two teams from the North American Concacaf region, which will conclude their qualifying programme on Tuesday.