Source:REUTERS/ABDELMJID RIZKOU
[Saba Sports News] In the just-concluded World Cup qualifier, Nigeria lost to the Democratic Republic of Congo in a penalty shootout, regrettably missing out on the main tournament. In the post-match press conference, Nigeria’s coach Eric Chelle gave a startling response, suggesting that the Democratic Republic of Congo team used witchcraft to interfere with the game. He claimed that throughout the entire penalty shootout, a member of the DRC staff was on the sidelines practicing voodoo rituals, waving items like water bottles or small sticks in the air, which made him very uncomfortable. The author believes that coach Chelle’s “witchcraft” accusation lacks any substantial evidence and seems more like an emotional outburst following the difficulty of accepting the loss. Simultaneously, such unconventional remarks easily shift the media focus away from the team’s own shortcomings in penalty kicks, serving to some extent to deflect responsibility and alleviate personal pressure.