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tobermory
17 Nov 25 14:17
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Date Joined: 01 Mar 08
| Topic/replies: 63,386 | Blogger: tobermory's blog
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.
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Report Crisp77 November 17, 2025 2:34 PM GMT
Also, the Congo keeper had the Nigerian penalty taking preferences written on an Um Bongo carton.
Report DIE LINKE November 17, 2025 2:59 PM GMT
Gary Bailey cheated in the 1985 FA Cup Final when he locked the goal.
Report Foinavon November 17, 2025 3:29 PM GMT
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.
Report impossible123 November 17, 2025 3:33 PM GMT
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.
Report LoyalHoncho November 17, 2025 4:02 PM GMT
What a brilliant chuckle thread.  Laugh
Report DIE LINKE November 17, 2025 4:39 PM GMT
These football types believe owt, Robert Enke thought he could stop a train.
Report Foinavon November 17, 2025 4:51 PM GMT
Remember Ron Saunders and the gypsy curse?
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- November 17, 2025 6:15 PM GMT
Money tree tipped Nigeria to win the shoot out.

Who needs voodoo.
Report kincsem November 18, 2025 6:20 AM GMT
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).
Report spyker November 18, 2025 11:00 AM GMT
It aint voodoo -  it's juju. Amy different to the superstitions of players 'left sock, right sock, goalie takes 3 slps and sprays water on goalline?
Report DIE LINKE November 18, 2025 11:33 AM GMT
Gypos often put curses on driveways, usually ones they've just tarmacked.
Report LoyalHoncho November 18, 2025 11:36 AM GMT
Nope.  No different from kneeling on a knee before kickoff.
Report Crisp77 November 18, 2025 11:40 AM GMT
Or the latest superstition of "Don't cry in front of an Irishman or his Parrott will get you".
Report LoyalHoncho November 18, 2025 11:43 AM GMT
Laugh
Report ----you-have-to-laugh--- November 19, 2025 2:09 PM GMT
Haiti qualify for world Cup.

Now you're talking...
Report tobermory November 19, 2025 2:25 PM GMT
Laugh
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