Defeated in a penalty shootout
Despite being one of the three African nations to have qualified for the World Cup more times than Nigeria, the Super Eagles will not be heading to the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada next summer. After securing a 4-1 victory over Gabon, Nigeria advanced to the CAF World Cup qualifier final but ultimately fell 4-3 in penalties against DR Congo, following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Nigeria took an early advantage against their rivals with a goal from Frank Onyeka just three minutes into the match. However, DR Congo equalized through Meschack Elia in the second half. The Super Eagles suffered another blow as star striker Victor Osimhen had to leave the field due to injury at halftime. The situation worsened as Chancel Mbemba, a former defender for Newcastle, scored the decisive penalty in the shootout, leading to dramatic scenes on the sidelines. Nigeria’s head coach Éric Chelle accused the DR Congo team of using ‘voodoo’ as the Super Eagles faced elimination from their second consecutive World Cup.
The end of Nigeria’s World Cup dreams
Nigeria qualified for six out of seven World Cups between 1994 and 2014, marking their first appearance in the tournament. The Super Eagles have dazzled many tournaments with iconic players, managing to advance past the group stages in 1994, 1998, and 2014. While Nigeria is considered a powerhouse in African football, they have encountered significant challenges in recent years. The match against DR Congo devolved into chaos when Coach Chelle lost his composure during the penalty shootout.
The 48-year-old coach confronted the DR Congo bench just before the last penalty of the shootout, grabbing a water bottle in a heated moment as he attempted to approach a member of their technical staff. He inexplicably claimed that a staff member of DR Congo was practicing voodoo against his team during the penalties. “Throughout the entire penalty shootout, the guy from DR Congo was doing voodoo,” said Chelle. “Every single time. That’s why I was a little nervous around him.”
Nigeria’s standing among Africa’s most valuable nations
Nigeria’s squad features several well-known players, including the current African Footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman, and Galatasaray star Osimhen. Comprised mainly of players from top-tier leagues, Nigeria boasts the third most valuable squad among African nations, valued at €335.5 million—only Morocco is ahead at €358 million. It is almost unfathomable that the Super Eagles will be absent from the World Cup, especially since their squad is considerably more valuable than that of South Africa, who topped their qualifying group.
