Former Nigerian international John Mikel Obi has launched a scathing criticism against Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle following his controversial comments about voodoo affecting Nigeria's World Cup qualification chances.
World Cup Dreams Shattered in Penalty Drama
The Nigerian national team's hopes of participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup were brutally dashed after suffering a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat against DR Congo in the African playoff final. Despite securing an impressive 4-1 victory over Gabon in the semi-final, the Super Eagles couldn't maintain their momentum against the determined Congolese side.
According to BBC reports, Nigeria failed to protect their early lead as DR Congo fought back to equalize, forcing the crucial match to be decided by spot-kicks. The penalty shootout proved disastrous for the Super Eagles, with Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon, and Semi Ajayi all failing to convert their penalties, resulting in a 4-3 victory for the Leopards.
Controversial Voodoo Claims Spark Outrage
The match took an unexpected turn when coach Eric Chelle engaged in a heated altercation with DR Congo's technical staff during the penalty shootout. Following the devastating loss, Chelle made headlines by claiming that the opposition resorted to supernatural tactics.
"DR Congo guys were doing maraboutage. During all of the penalties, the players of Congo were doing some voodoo," the tactician lamented in his post-match comments.
However, Chelle later attempted to walk back his statements through an apology posted on social media and reported by NY Times. "Football is all about emotions. After the match, I reacted in the heat of the moment because of an altercation with a member of the DR Congo staff who was trying to come into my technical area," he explained.
Mikel Obi's Blunt Response
The former Chelsea midfielder didn't mince words when responding to Chelle's voodoo explanation, describing the comments as "ridiculous" and pointing to deeper issues within Nigerian football.
"If voodoo works in football, do you know how many World Cups Africa would have had? What a ridiculous excuse. I couldn't stop laughing when I saw the comment," Mikel Obi stated emphatically.
The former Super Eagles captain shifted blame to the team's preparation and internal disputes, particularly highlighting the timing of bonus negotiations. "The Super Eagles lost because they chose the wrong time to fight for their bonuses and allowances. That's not when you do that," he revealed.
Mikel Obi also directed criticism toward the Nigeria Football Federation officials, accusing them of creating an unsuitable environment for the national team. "This will continue to happen because we have the wrong people in charge of our football. Even if you resolve the money issues before the match, the damage is already done to the players' mentality," he added.
International Fallout and Reactions
The controversy has extended beyond Nigeria's borders, with South Africa's sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, calling on FIFA and CAF to take disciplinary action against Nigeria following coach Chelle's behavior during the crucial match.
The loss marks another disappointing chapter in Nigeria's World Cup qualification history, raising serious questions about the future direction of the national team under Chelle's leadership and the administration of the Nigeria Football Federation.
