In football, everything has its ritual. Coaches drill plays to perfection, players cross themselves before stepping onto the pitch, and others practice every movement until it becomes instinctive. Focus, preparation, and a touch of superstition. Everything is “allowed” in an attempt to control what seems uncontrollable: luck.
But on Sunday, during the penalty shootout that decided the 2026 World Cup playoff, something felt different. Nigeria lost to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and their coach, Eric Chelle, could not contain his outrage, since, according to him, a member of the Congolese team had been performing “voodoo” the whole time.
Following this, Chelle stormed toward the opposing bench, and his fury was palpable. Shoves, struggles, and frantic gestures filled the technical area, as if every movement were charged with electricity. Defiant glances and hands reaching for the invisible gave the impression that they were facing something far beyond the players on the field. For him, it was not just a match; it was a confrontation with a force beyond explanation.
Beyond skill and strategy
In the end, whatever the opponent did, that “black magic” left Nigeria out.
Because that is the game. Sometimes victory goes to the team with the best tactics, sometimes to the one who executes with perfect precision, and other times, like that day, to the one who brings a touch of mystery that no one can explain.
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