Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle ignited a firestorm of controversy by claiming that Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was partly due to a DR Congo technical crew member using 'voodoo'. This statement, while provoking varied reactions on social media, drew sharp criticism from former Nigeria internationals Sam Sodje and Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

The individual in question, Dodo Landu, clarified that his actions during the penalty shootout against Nigeria were merely prayers for his team's victory. However, Chelle insisted that the ritual, which he vaguely described as involving gestures and possibly water, distracted his players and contributed to their 6-5 penalty shootout loss after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes in Rabat.

Sam Sodje, a former Nigeria and Brentford defender, vehemently slammed Chelle's comments, deeming them indicative of a deeper malaise within Nigerian football. Sodje argued on 'Beyond The Playbook' that Nigeria's World Cup ticket was lost 'a long time ago' due to systemic issues, not solely the DR Congo defeat or a prior player strike over unpaid bonuses. He criticized the acceptance of a coach attributing a national team's loss to voodoo, suggesting it reflects the deplorable state of Nigerian football. Sodje further asserted that the current NFF President lacks direction, emphasizing the urgent need for restructuring Nigerian football rather than focusing on superficial explanations.

Former Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni echoed similar sentiments, condemning Chelle's remarks as inappropriate and unhelpful. Aiyegbeni pointed out that such claims shifted attention away from Nigeria's poor penalty execution and the team's struggles without talisman Victor Osimhen in the second half. He sarcastically remarked, “If it was down to voodoo, I think an African country would have won the World Cup a long time ago.” Yakubu urged Chelle to simply congratulate DR Congo and avoid bringing shame to Nigeria with such bizarre excuses, highlighting the team's performance deficiencies as the true cause of the defeat.

The Super Eagles' path to the World Cup was marred by internal issues even before the play-offs, with players initially refusing to train over unpaid bonuses from the NFF. Although team captain William Troost-Ekong confirmed the payments were resolved, the physically demanding fixtures against Gabon and DR Congo, both going to extra time, were seen by many as consequences of their disrupted preparation. Sodje's broader critique extended to the overall decline of Nigerian football, noting the struggles of other national teams like the Flamingoes and Flying Eagles, and amplifying the NFF's administrative failures.

Another significant concern for the Super Eagles has been their perceived over-reliance on star striker Victor Osimhen. Former captain Sunday Oliseh had warned about this dependence, a fear that materialized when Osimhen was substituted at halftime during the critical match against DR Congo. Chelle’s side subsequently failed to register a shot on target for the next 75 minutes. While Sodje acknowledged that having a stand-out performer is not inherently negative, he stressed that a country of Nigeria's stature should not be a 'one-man team', emphasizing the need for collective contribution to victory.

Despite these setbacks, the Super Eagles have an opportunity for redemption at the upcoming 2025 AFCON tournament. They have been drawn into Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda, with their campaign set to commence against Tanzania on December 23rd at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Fez, Morocco.