Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle has alleged that DR Congo’s players were practicing “voodoo” during their penalty shootout victory over his side on Sunday.
DR Congo won the penalty shootout to advance through to the final stage of the play-off system.
When Chancel Mbemba scored the winning penalty, Chelle confronted several members of DR Congo’s staff including the head coach Sebastien Desabre. He had to be separated from them by members of Nigeria’s backroom team.
At the end of his press conference, Chelle asked reporters why they had not brought up the incident. Chelle, speaking French, then presented his version of events: “DR Congo guys were doing maraboutage” (technically a Muslim holy man, marabout has connotations of a north African witch doctor).
Chelle, 48, later doubled down on his allegations in English when walking through the media mixed zone: “During all of the penalties, the players of Congo were doing some voodoo.”
'During the entire penalty shootout, the guy from DR Congo was doing voodoo,' 'Every time, every time, every time. That's why I was a little nervous after him.'
When asked to describe what he saw, Chelle responded by swinging his right arm in the air, adding 'Something like that.'
'I don't know if it was water or something.'
A representative of DR Congo denied Chelle’s claims when asked by The Athletic.
Some players make the sign of the cross and look up to the sky when they score. Perhaps the goal should be disallowed if it appears they had outside help.
Some players make the sign of the cross and look up to the sky when they score. Perhaps the goal should be disallowed if it appears they had outside help.
The country is still living in the past. No wonder it's in such a dire state still despite its abundance of oil.
Blame no one, but oneself. That was the motto of my parents.
The country is still living in the past. No wonder it's in such a dire state still despite its abundance of oil.Blame no one, but oneself. That was the motto of my parents.
In the late 1970s I lived in Zambia. Before the cup final at the national stadium men were sprinkling dirt in the goal to keep the ball out. In the pre-match warm-up the players never kicked the ball at the goal, and the goalkeeper never stood in the goal. The cup final was really a match-up between their "advisers" (David Blaine stuff).
In the late 1970s I lived in Zambia.Before the cup final at the national stadium men were sprinkling dirt in the goal to keep the ball out.In the pre-match warm-up the players never kicked the ball at the goal, and the goalkeeper never stood in the g