Super Eagles loss should not be blamed on Voodoo – Former Nigerian defender Ifeanyi Udeze

Former Nigerian defender Ifeanyi Udeze has firmly rejected claims that voodoo played a role in the Super Eagles’ recent defeat to DR Congo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs.

After both sides finished 1-1 in regulation and extra time, DR Congo edged past Nigeria by winning the penalty shootout 4-3.

The aftermath was tense, with Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle expressing frustration. He alleged that a DR Congo official performed “suspicious hand movements” and poured an unknown substance, actions Chelle believed to be linked to voodoo, before every Nigerian penalty. According to Chelle, this made him visibly uneasy during the shootout.

However, Udeze dismissed these concerns and insisted that DR Congo simply outperformed Nigeria.

“Voodoo is not the reason Super Eagles lost, DR Congo deserved to win because they showed character, they showed that they want to go to the World Cup,” Udeze told Brila FM.

He further criticized the Super Eagles’ players, emphasizing that they failed to deliver when it mattered, and called on them to take responsibility for the loss instead of blaming others.​