Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Ayegbeni has strongly criticised coach Eric Chelle. Chelle claimed “voodoo” influenced Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Ayegbeni asserts that this comment has dragged Nigeria’s name through the mud.
Nigeria’s World Cup hopes ended after a tense CAF play-off final in Rabat. They lost to DR Congo on penalties. Chancel Mbemba scored the winning spot-kick. This secured DR Congo’s place in the next qualification round. Mbemba had also netted their semi-final winner against Cameroon.
Ayegbeni, a former Premier League star for Everton and Portsmouth, quickly dismissed Chelle’s explanation. He called it embarrassing and out of touch.
Ayegbeni Slams ‘Voodoo’ Claim
Speaking to SportsCasting, Ayegbeni ridiculed Chelle’s reasoning. “If it were down to Voodoo, an African country would have won the World Cup a long time ago,” he stated.
He further criticised Chelle’s conduct. “He (Chelle) should have congratulated DR Congo. He needed to say ‘well done’ for winning. Instead, he shamed Nigeria with his voodoo claim.”
Ayegbeni added, “A coach coming out to say this is a shame to Nigeria. We lost on penalties, which were quite poor. The pressure was too much for our players. He even tried to fight someone, needing to be pulled back. This reflects poorly on him and Nigeria.”
Nigeria’s penalty woes began early in the shootout. Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon both missed their first two attempts. During sudden-death, goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu saved Semi Ajayi’s effort.
The match had ended in a draw after regular time. Frank Onyeka gave Nigeria the lead with a deflected strike. However, Meschak Elia equalised before halftime. He capitalised on a mistake from Wilfried Ndidi.
DR Congo has not featured in a World Cup since 1974. They competed then as Zaire. Their recent victory now sends them to the inter-continental play-offs in March. There, they will face teams like Bolivia and New Caledonia. This offers a chance for a long-awaited return to football’s biggest stage.
About the Author
