Former Nigerian defender Ifeanyi Udeze has criticised Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle over his claim that the Democratic Republic of Congo used voodoo during the penalty shootout with Nigeria in the final of the 2026 World Cup playoff final in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday.
The crucial game to determine who picks the sole ticket for the intercontinental playoff for the World Cup between Nigeria and the DRC was decided on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes of football.
However, shortly before the Central Africans took their decisive kick which beat Stanley Nwabali who had saved two spot kicks during the period, Chelle was seen racing towards one of the coaching staff of DRC.
He was restrained on two occasions. While speaking with journalists in the mixed zone after the game, the coach claimed he sighted someone among the opposing team’s coaching crew spraying in the air water-like substance.
But reacting to the claim by the 48-year-old gaffer’s claim, Udeze said the allegation does not hold water because the Eagles failed to show up in the match.
“I’m so angry this morning. Which one is voodoo? We played 90 minutes and could not beat the DRC, played extra-time still we could not beat them. So you want to tell me DRC used voodoo for 90 minutes, extra time and even during penalties? I won’t say there is no voodoo in football; it exists but I don’t want to hear this one because our players did nothing. They could not move,” he said on Brila on Monday.
“The DRC took the midfield from us, we did not play anything; failed to show up. None of our players showed up yesterday. None. Voodoo is when you play well but the ball just did not enter the net, your efforts kept striking the cross bar and did not go in. I could believe that scenario but we did not play anything. DRC beat us because they deserved to win. They were better than us.”
