Nigerian coach accuses opponent of using dark tricks

The final play-off match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Africa has been in the spotlight due to controversial statements from Nigeria coach Eric Chelle.

Coach Chelle was disappointed because Nigeria was rated much higher than the Republic of Congo.

In the early morning of November 17, the Republic of Congo drew 1-1 with Nigeria, then won 4-3 in the penalty shootout in the African play-off to win a ticket to the intercontinental round. Right before Nigeria and the Republic of Congo entered the penalty shootout, coach Chelle lost his temper and threatened to hit a member of the Congo coaching staff.

After the match, he accused members of the opposing coaching staff of performing "voodoo" rituals during the penalty shootout, affecting the mentality and performance of his team. In a post-match interview, Chelle made a shocking statement: "During the penalty shootout, a person from Congo performed voodoo every time. That's why I reacted."

He also explained that in African beliefs, "voodoo" is a spiritual ritual, which involves using water or other objects to curse opponents. The coach said that it affected the mentality of the Nigerian team.

The statement immediately sparked controversy, with some seeing it as an explanation for the defeat, while others saw it as part of a cultural belief in African football.

The defeat to Congo was not only a shock for Nigeria, who have qualified for the World Cup three times since 1994, but also raised questions about the future of coach Chelle. Meanwhile, the Republic of Congo is preparing for the intercontinental play-offs in March 2026, where they will face teams from Concacaf, CONMEBOL, Oceania and Asia for one of the two remaining places at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Source: https://znews.vn/hlv-nigeria-to-doi-thu-dung-chieu-hac-am-post1603429.html