Super Eagles Coach Loses Cool in Dramatic World Cup Playoff Defeat
Nigeria's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to a crushing end on Sunday, November 16, in a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo that saw Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle involved in a heated confrontation with the opposition's technical staff.
The crucial World Cup playoff match played at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan stadium in Rabat, Morocco ended 1-1 after regulation time before the Leopards secured their ticket to the inter-continental playoff with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory.
Match Timeline: From Early Dominance to Penalty Heartbreak
Frank Onyeka gave Nigeria the perfect start in just the 3rd minute when his shot took a deflection and found the back of the net. The three-time AFCON champions dominated early proceedings, creating several clear chances but failing to convert them into goals.
The momentum shifted in the 32nd minute when Meschack Elia equalized for DR Congo following a cross from Cedric Bakambu. The goal came after Alex Iwobi was dispossessed in midfield, with Calvin Bassey beaten in defense.
Nigeria suffered a major blow just after halftime when star striker Victor Osimhen suffered an injury in the 46th minute and had to be replaced by Sevilla's Akor Adams. The substitute nearly made an immediate impact, almost scoring in the 48th minute only for Congolese defenders to clear the danger.
The match saw several controversial moments, including a waved-away penalty appeal after Ademola Lookman was brought down by Noah Sadiki in the 59th minute. In the 109th minute, Mayele thought he had scored for DR Congo but the goal was disallowed after the referee ruled he had used his body illegally to score from a Balikwisha cross.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali kept Nigeria's hopes alive in the 120th minute with a crucial save against Lille defender Chancel Mbemba, sending the game to penalties.
The Dramatic Penalty Shootout and Chelle's Outburst
During the tense penalty shootout, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle was captured in a viral video losing his composure and confronting members of DR Congo's technical team.
The 48-year-old Franco-Malian coach was seen picking up an empty water bottle and heading toward the DR Congo bench before being intercepted by a Moroccan official. After the Leopards converted the winning penalty, Chelle again attempted to approach the DR Congo staff member but was stopped by coach Sébastien Desabre and other Congolese team officials.
It took the intervention of Super Eagles assistant coach Daniel Ogunmodede to calm the situation and guide Chelle back to Nigeria's bench. The defeat marks Chelle's first loss since taking over as Super Eagles manager in January 2025.
Reactions and Analysis
Nigerian sports journalist Sadiq Adebara shared his perspective on Chelle's unusual behavior, suggesting the coach must have observed something significant that others missed.
"Ordinarily, Nigeria ought to win that game but we could see that our main forward Victor Osimhen suffered an injury during the match and we failed to play well during the second half as well as extra time," Adebara explained in an exclusive comment.
"For Eric Chelle to behave in such a matter, he must have critically observed the technical staff."
West Brom defender Semi Ajayi missed the decisive penalty that ultimately sealed Nigeria's fate, meaning the Super Eagles will miss the World Cup for the second consecutive time. DR Congo now progresses to the inter-continental play-off scheduled for March next year.
The defeat has sparked widespread reactions among Nigerian football fans, with many calling for the retirement of some Super Eagles stars and raising questions about the team's direction under Chelle's leadership.
