World Cup (Q): ‘Not voodoo’: DR Congo deserved to beat Nigeria – Udeze

Former Nigeria international Ifeanyi Udeze is not buying claims by Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle to blame black magic for the team’s defeat against DR Congo which saw them miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

During the African Play-off final at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium on Sunday, the Leopards kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup dream alive after beating the Super Eagles 4-3 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Le tir au but de la victoire encore pour Chancel Mbemba. C’est tellement le capitaine et l’âme de l’équipe #NGRRDC pic.twitter.com/3OG2P99O6r

— Kembo Waxan (@KemboFaith) November 16, 2025

Frank Onyeka had put the Super Eagles ahead, but Meschack Elia levelled on 32 minutes and, after 120 tense minutes, captain Chancel Mbemba converted the decisive spot-kick to send the Leopards into March’s inter-confederation play-off in Mexico.

After the game, Chelle singled out one official from the Leopards for sprinkling water during the penalty shootout. The Malian coach said: “During the penalty session, a guy from Congo did some voodoo every time, every time…so this is why I was a little nervous after him,” Chelle said after the game.

Asked to explain what he exactly saw, the Malian coach explained: “It was something like a bottle, I don’t know if it was water, I don’t know but he did something.”

Nigeria lost to DR Congo fair and square

According to Udeze, DR Congo deserved to beat Nigeria because they played better than the Super Eagles throughout the final playoff fixture.

“Voodoo is not the reason Super Eagles lost, DR Congo deserved to win because they showed character, they showed that they want to go to the World Cup,” Udeze said on Brila FM as quoted by Complete Sports.

“We always blame the NFF for everything but this time the players should take the blame. The NFF, NSC and even the federal government did everything to make sure the World Cup ticket is secured but the players let everyone down. For me I will call out the players because they didn’t show up.”

Nigeria arrived buoyed by a 4-1 extra-time win over Gabon; while DR Congo had eliminated Cameroon with a stoppage-time strike from Mbemba. The win enabled DR Congo, who last appeared at a World Cup in 1974 as Zaire, to advance to the inter-confederation play-off from 23-31 March 2026.

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