Nigeria Left To Blame ‘voodoo’ After Dramatic Playoff Defeat By Dr Congo

Thirty-one years agone Nigeria burst connected to nan world shape successful a aureate summertime at nan 1994 World Cup successful nan US, impressing pinch a do-or-die cognition that helped them apical their group and travel wrong 2 minutes of reaching nan quarter-finals by beating Italy. But nan Super Eagles will not beryllium returning to North American ungraded for adjacent summer’s tourney – and they are not blaming their shooting boots.

After a fraught and melodramatic continental playoff last connected Sunday, wherever Nigeria were eliminated by DR Congo connected penalties, nan Super Eagles manager, Éric Chelle, said that his squad had been defeated by “voodoo”.

The declare came successful nan aftermath of a tense lucifer successful Rabat wherever DR Congo edged retired nan favourites 4-3 connected penalties pursuing a 1-1 tie aft other time. The consequence intends Nigeria, 1 of nan continent’s heavyweights, will miss consecutive World Cups for nan first clip since 1990.

After Chancel Mbemba’s decisive spot-kick, Chelle was seen confronting nan opposing coaching unit connected nan touchline, including nan DR Congo manager, Sébastien Desabre, and had to beryllium held backmost by his ain coaching team.

Despite Desabre saying nan altercation was “not an issue” successful his post-match property conference, Chelle asked reporters why they had not brought up nan incident to him. He past accused DR Congo of “doing maraboutage” – a word utilized colloquially to picture acts of magic aliases bewitchment.

He past continued his accusations successful nan mixed zone. “During nan punishment shootout, nan feline [from] Congo did immoderate voodoo. Every time, each time, each time. So this is why I was a small tense aft [he did that].”

Chelle, who has managed Nigeria since January, went connected to mimic nan gestures he says he saw, saying personification of nan DR Congo coaching unit was waving their manus arsenic if shaking aliases sprinkling a liquid.

The Nigeria captain, William Troost-Ekong, did not echo his manager’s statements, but said: “We are devastated. I americium proud of nan boys, they gave everything, not conscionable today, but complete nan past 10 months. There are plentifulness of positives to return away. The early of this squad is promising … but coming is simply a very difficult day.”

Éric Chelle, nan Nigeria manager, cried foul aft nan Super Eagles’ exit. Photograph: Jalal Morchidi/EPA

The nonaccomplishment ends a disjointed two-year qualifying run for nan Super Eagles, which near them to sneak into nan continental playoffs connected extremity difference. The lucifer offered precocious play from nan outset. Nigeria, 19 places supra their opponents successful nan Fifa rankings, took an early lead erstwhile Frank Onyeka’s deflected changeable recovered nan nett successful nan 3rd minute. But nan Super Eagles’ advantage was soon cancelled retired by Meschak Elia, who punished a correction by Wilfred Ndidi to level nan scores.

Nigeria’s onslaught appeared to falter aft their striker Victor Osimhen was substituted astatine half-time owing to a recurring hamstring problem. DR Congo grew successful confidence, dominating possession and pressing hard, pinch Fiston Mayele having 2 efforts disallowed for fouls successful a frantic play of other time. Stanley Nwabali, nan Nigeria goalkeeper, made a important clawing prevention to contradict Mbemba’s looping header correct earlier nan last whistle successful other time.

The lucifer proceeded to penalties successful nan driving rainfall and Nigeria sewage disconnected to nan worst imaginable start, Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon missing their first 2 spot-kicks, though Akor Adams yet replied aft DR Congo’s Noah Sadiki converted. The Super Eagles were handed a lifeline erstwhile Nwabali saved Axel Tuanzebe’s punishment and further successes from Bruno Onyemaechi and Chidera Ejuke brought them backmost into nan contest.

However, aft Michel-Ange Balikwisha scored to nonstop nan shootout to abrupt death, nan Nigeria defender Semi Ajayi saw his changeable saved by DR Congo’s substitute goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu, who had been brought connected specifically for penalties. Mbemba past stepped up to guideline his effort precocious into nan net, sending his broadside done to nan inter-confederation playoffs.

Chancel Mbemba wheels distant pinch arms outstretched aft netting nan winning penalty. Photograph: Abdelmjid Rizkou/Reuters

“It’s difficult to commencement a lucifer down 1-0 [early],” said Desabre aft his side’s win. “But nan squad tone remained precocious and we chose to effort and power nan game. Nigeria besides deserves to beryllium congratulated. The lucifer was very close. We could person not qualified but, overall, I deliberation we deserved nan victory.”

DR Congo, who person only played successful nan World Cup erstwhile earlier – successful 1974 erstwhile nan state was called Zaire – ran nan magnitude of nan transportation to observe a triumph that keeps their distant dream alive. They subordinate Bolivia, New Caledonia, either Iraq aliases nan United Arab Emirates and 2 teams from Concacaf – who decorativeness qualifiers connected Tuesday – for nan inter-confederation playoffs, which will return spot successful Mexico successful March. The tie for nan six-team tourney will beryllium held connected Thursday.