Former Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has criticised Eric Chelle’s comments after Nigeria’s dramatic World Cup playoff defeat to DR Congo, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Eagles fell 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes in Rabat, losing their chance to represent CAF at the 2026 intercontinental World Cup playoffs.
While tensions on the pitch and touchline were high, Chelle’s post-match remarks about a DR Congo official allegedly performing “voodoo” during the penalty shootout garnered mixed reactions in the Nigerian football community.
Meanwhile, Yakubu revealed that Chelle’s comments shifted attention away from Nigeria’s poor penalty execution and the team’s struggles without talisman Victor Osimhen in the second half.
Éric Chelle on DR Congo’s Voodoo
Chelle revealed that he believed a DR Congo staff member’s actions during the penalty shootout affected the outcome.
“During the penalty session, a guy of Congo did some voodoo. Every time, every time, every time,” Chelle explained.
When asked for specifics, the French coach gestured vaguely.
“Something like—[waves hands] I don’t know if it’s water or something like that,” he said, insisting the ritual distracted his players and contributed to the defeat.
Aiyegbeni: Ex-Everton Star Slams Super Eagles Coach
Aiyegbeni, as cited by Independent UK, slammed Chelle’s remarks as inappropriate and unhelpful.
“If it was down to voodoo, I think an African country would have won the World Cup a long time ago,” the former Everton striker said.
He added:
“He [Eric Chelle] just needed to congratulate DR Congo and say well done for winning, rather than bringing shame to Nigeria. He is a shame to Nigeria, a coach coming out and saying it’s because of voodoo. We lost on penalties, he tried to fight someone and they had to pull him back. It is not a good look for him or for Nigeria. Our penalties were quite poor. The pressure was too much for the players to deal with.”
Soccernet’s Verdict: Voodoo or loss?
Yakubu, just like every other Super Eagles faithful, mirror the same sentiment that the defeat should have been addressed in terms of performance rather than voodoo claims.
Nigeria struggled after Osimhen’s early second-half exit which is something the team needs to work on moving forward.
The Super Eagles have another chance to put smiles on the faces of many Nigerians with an excellent performance at the upcoming 2025 AFCON tournament.
