'He had to embarrass us too' - Eric Chelle slammed for juju excuse after Super Eagles painful loss to DR Congo

Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, has come under a fierce backlash after blaming DR Congo’s victory in the World Cup playoff shootout on “juju” or voodoo rituals.

Many Nigerians have dismissed his claims as mere excuses for the Super Eagles’ woeful performance, sparking outrage on social media.

Chelle had claimed that a DR Congo staff member was performing ritualistic actions during the penalty shootout, alleging this contributed to Nigeria’s defeat.

He said, "During the penalties, the guy from DR Congo did some voodoo every time. That was why I was a bit nervous."

The coach’s comments came amid growing frustration over missed penalties and Nigeria’s inability to capitalise on scoring chances, especially after star striker Victor Osimhen was forced off due to injury.

While Chelle’s intentions may have been to explain the intense atmosphere and tension on the sidelines, many fans the “juju excuse” deflected from the team’s tactical and technical errors, which were more responsible for the heartbreak loss.

Frustrated fans reacted with scornful remarks such as, "As if losing was not enough, he had to embarrass us too." Another user voiced, "Can you imagine the nonsense excuse blaming it on voodoo, he should be sacked immediately."

One fan expressed deep disappointment, saying, "Like I don tire for this country," while another criticised Chelle’s response to the loss, stating, "This is utter nonsénse. Throughout the second half Nigeria played rubb!sh and this is all the coach could say... There's no voodoo in football. He should stop this crap."

The controversy surrounding Chelle’s statement has ignited a serious debate on accountability and the pressures facing Nigerian football.

Supporters are calling for a focus on improving the squad and coaching strategy rather than resorting to supernatural explanations.

Eric Chelle’s accusation of “juju” after Nigeria’s loss to DR Congo has been met with widespread criticism, with many viewing it as an embarrassing excuse that overshadowed the real issues in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign.