Former Super Eagles player Mikel Obi has criticised the team’s head coach, Eric Chelle, for claiming that the Democratic Republic of Congo used voodoo to defeat Nigeria in the World Cup qualifying play-off final in Morocco.
The Port City News (TCPN) reported that Chelle alleged DR Congo deployed voodoo during the penalty shoot-out, which Nigeria lost 4–3, resulting in their exit from the World Cup qualifiers.
Super Eagles took an early lead in the third minute through a deflected strike from Frank Onyeka, before Meschak Elia equalised for DR Congo later in the first half.
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There were no further goals in regulation or extra time and the match ended 1–1 after 120 minutes and proceeded to penalties.
Reacting to Chelle’s claims, the former Chelsea midfielder dismissed the comments as a “lame excuse.”
The 38-year-old said the coach had run out of explanations and was simply looking for someone or something to blame.
He added that if voodoo truly influenced football outcomes, Africa would have won more World Cups than any other continent.
Mikel said, “I don’t know the guy, and I can’t say much about him. For him to come out and talk about voodoo after the game, how can you say we lost because of voodoo, that they were throwing something, and there was voodoo going on? If voodoo works, do you know how many World Cups we would have had? What a ridiculous excuse.
“When I saw it and heard it, I couldn’t stop laughing. I was angry about the result, but then you see that. Come on. That’s the lamest excuse you can come up with. Voodoo? If voodoo works in football, do you know how many people would be winning everything? Just flick it and it works.”
