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Nigeria’s football coach has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo of practising “voodoo” after his squad’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup ended in a penalty shootout loss.

DR Congo and Nigeria drew 1-1 after extra time in the African play-offs final in Rabat on Sunday, and the central Africans won 4-3 on penalties to book a place in inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico next March.

In his post-match remarks to journalists, coach Eric Chelle said a member of the DR Congo team “did some voodoo, every time, every time, every time”.

“That is why I was a bit nervous,” said former Mali international Chelle, who boasts four wins and two draws in competitive matches since taking charge of the Super Eagles.

Chelle had admitted before the match that it was going to “be very difficult in Morocco”.

Using hand gestures, he said he saw a DR Congo member waving his hand as if sprinkling or shaking something. “I don’t know if it’s water or something like that.”

In a nervy shootout in which four spot-kicks were saved and another missed, DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba defied a bottle thrown toward him and torrential rain to convert the winning penalty as his country sought a return to the global showpiece after a lengthy absence.

Nigeria, an African football giant, lies 19 places above DR Congo in the world rankings and was pre-match favourites.

READ ALSO: UPDATED: DR Congo Shatter Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup Dream

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the second World Cup in a row. They had not missed back-to-back editions since their debut in 1994.

While Nigeria have been a regular participant at the World Cup, the sole appearance by the Congolese came in 1974 when the mineral-rich central African country was called Zaire.

Sports editor and journalist, Opeyemi Akinyode, has reacted to Nigeria’s performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, saying the Super Eagles did not deserve a place at the tournament.

Akinyode, who spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, commented after DR Congo shattered Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup hopes.

According to him, “You can’t give what you don’t have. We don’t deserve to be at the World Cup. Serious teams go via the regular qualifiers; you can’t go through the back doors. Maybe the God of soccer wanted a second chance for us.”

He blamed the setback on those handling sports administration, saying they do not understand how deep and demanding the business of sports has become globally.

“Serious teams are already going to the World Cup. They are already signing media partnerships. But do you know that we barely have an official photographer for the NFF? They pick pictures from bloggers. It’s as simple as that,” he said.

Akinyode added that Nigeria’s football struggles stemmed from a continuous recycling process within sports leadership, which, according to him, “throws away competence and brings in mediocrity on the altar of patronage.”

He warned that the result witnessed in the qualifiers is the natural outcome of such administrative failures, noting that “this is what we are going to have.

READ ALSO: DR Congo Shatters Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup Dream

Nigeria lost their qualifying match against DR Congo and won’t be at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the US, and Mexico.  

This was after the Super Eagles lost on penalties in a tightly-contested African play-offs final on Sunday.

The game ended 1-1 after normal and extra time.  But during penalties, the Leopards of DR Congo overpowered the Super Eagles 3-4 to pick Africa’s sole ticket for the intercontinental play-offs billed for March next year.

Nigeria had taken the lead, just three minutes into the final game in Rabat, Morocco.

Midfielder Frank Onyeka struck just within minutes of the game to give Nigeria the advantage.

The Super Eagles won’t be at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the US, and Mexico!

This was after Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo in a tightly-contested African play-offs final on Sunday.

The game ended 1-1 after normal and extra time.  But during penalties, the Leopards of DR Congo overpowered the Super Eagles 3-4 to pick Africa’s sole ticket for the intercontinental play-offs billed for March next year.

Deadlock broken from the spot, DR Congo are through to the FIFA Play-Off Tournament! #WCQ pic.twitter.com/KcKtc0TEas

Nigeria had taken the lead, just three minutes into the final game in Rabat, Morocco.

Midfielder Frank Onyeka struck just within minutes of the game to give Nigeria the advantage.

The Super Eagles looked to make it two but were unable to finish off their chances. As the game wore on, the Central Africans grew into the match, dictating the tempo of the game.

DR Congo advance

It did not take long before they got things levelled. Mechak Elia equalized in the 32nd minute, pegging Nigeria back.

The first half ended like that, but there were surprises when Victor Osimhen did not return for the next 45 minutes.

Nigeria threw in Akor Adams, who plays for Sevilla; however, his introduction and that later, of Tolu Arokodare, made little or no impact.

Chidera Ejuke and Simon Moses were also introduced to boost Nigeria’s attack, but the Super Eagles were forced to play mostly in their half as the Leopard probed for a winner.

However, Nigeria held on to force the game into extra time. The match remained almost the same, with DR Congo dictating things and could have won, but their goal in extra time was ruled out for a foul on Stanley Nwabali.

The Chippa United goalkeeper made a stoppage-time save in extra time to deny Sebastian Desabre’s men a late winner.

When it got to penalties, Nwabali saved two. However, as it entered sudden death, defender Semi Ajayi’s effort was saved before Chancel Mbemba scored the winning spot-kick to pick DR Congo’s ticket to the intercontinental play-offs.

The Super Eagles had defeated Gabon 4-1 to reach this stage, while DR Congo pipped Cameroon.

Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen is among the three finalists for the CAF Player of the Year award. 

The Galatasaray man, the winner of the award in 2023, will battle it out with Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool) and Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain) for Africa’s most-coveted individual prize.

Osimhen was part of the list released on Sunday evening by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the award last won by Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman.

In the women’s version, Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade was also part of the shortlist for the prize.

She will contend with Morocco’s duo of Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy.

READ ALSO: Ajibade Listed, Okoronkwo Missing In Final Shortlist For CAF Women’s Best Player

Men’s category: CAF Award

Below are the shortlists for the men’s categories in the 2025 CAF Awards.

Player of the Year

Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain)
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria/Galatasaray)

Goalkeeper of the Year

Munir Mohamedi (Morocco/RS Berkane)
Yassine Bonou (Morocco/Al Hilal)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)

Interclub Player of the Year

Fiston Mayele (DR Congo/Pyramids)
Mohamed Chibi (Morocco/Pyramids)
Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco/RS Berkane)

Coach of the Year

Bubista (Cape Verde)
Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco U-20)
Walid Regragui (Morocco)

Young Player of the Year

Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco/Ajax)
Othmane Maamma (Morocco/Watford)
Tylon Smith (South Africa/Queens Park Rangers)

National Team of the Year

Cape Verde
Morocco
Morocco U-20

Club of the Year

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)’s Rasheedat Ajibade has made the final shortlist for the CAF Women’s Player of the Year. Still, compatriot Esther Okoronkwo was surprisingly missing from the three footballers named in the last three. 

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the final list of players for the prize on Sunday evening.

Okoronkwo of the AFC Toronto was on the initial 10-person shortlist announced earlier.

However, she was omitted from the final shortlist, with the Moroccan duo of Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy completing the last trio for the award.

() – #CAFAwards2025 pic.twitter.com/AHtzjLwwVL

Okoronkwo was part of Nigeria’s team that won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) earlier in the year. She was Player of the Match in the Super Falcons’ historic comeback against Morocco in the final.

PSG’s Ajibade clinched the Player of the Competition after an impressive outing, which saw her voted as the woman of the match on three occasions during Nigeria’s six-game run to their 10th WAFCON.

() – #CAFAwards2025 pic.twitter.com/vBXJ82ibqQ

Meanwhile, Chiamaka Nnadozie is on course for a hat-trick in the Goalkeeper of the Year prize. The Brighton footballer is on the final shortlist for the category.

The 24-year-old has claimed the award twice in a row and is gunning for her third laurel as Africa’s best shotstopper.

Her compatriot, Moshood Shakirat, was also on the final list for the Best Young Player prize for women.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons will also be aiming to win the national team of the year after an impressive year that saw them win a record-extending WAFCON.

Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, has named his starting lineup for the game against DR Congo in the final of the 2026 World Cup play-offs, dropping striker, Akor Adams, to the bench. 

Akor, who plays for Sevilla, scored the first goal in Nigeria’s victory over the Panthers of Gabon on Thursday, a match the Super Eagles won 4-1. 

However, defender Semi Ajayi, who did not play in the semi-final match against Gabon, is back in the starting team, while Frank Onyeka is also part of the first 11. 

Ajayi was sidelined for the previous match following an accumulation of yellow cards. He will partner with Fulham’s Calvin Bassey in the heart of Nigeria’s defence.

READ ALSO: [Preview] Nigeria, DR Congo Face-Off In 2026 World Cup Play-Offs Final

Zaidu Sanusi will man the left flank of the Super Eagles’ defence, while fast-rising star Benjamin Frederick takes the right back position.

In midfield, Alex Iwobi of Fulham will pull the strings. The former Arsenal man is supported by Wilfred Ndidi and Onyeka (who came in from the bench in the last game).

As expected, Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen spearheads Nigeria’s attack. Reigning African Player of the Year, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze will run the flanks.

READ ALSO: Ndidi Eligible To Face DR Congo On Sunday, CAF Confirms

TEAM NEWS ️

Two changes from our win over Gabon.
Iwobi pulls the strings in midfield.
Osimhen leads the line.#SoarSuperEagles #NGADRC #FIFAWCQ2026 pic.twitter.com/jFdJRgUHPj

The match between Nigeria and DR Congo is a fight for a place in the intercontinental play-offs.

It is a winner-take-all game with the victor going on to represent Africa in the play-offs next March.