"Waving Hands and Sprinkling Gestures, Cast a Spell" - Nigerian Coach Outraged After World Cup Elimination

Eric Sell, coach of the Nigerian national football team, accused players from the Democratic Republic of Congo of performing shamanistic rituals. Sell Instagram

Eric Sell, head coach of the Nigerian national football team, who failed to qualify for the World Cup finals for the second consecutive time, claimed that players from the Democratic Republic of Congo performed shamanistic acts during the penalty shootout defeat.

According to Yonhap News, which cited reports from foreign media such as ESPN on the 18th (Korean time), Coach Sell made this accusation after Nigeria drew 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup African qualifying playoff (PO) at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Morocco on the 17th, and then lost 4-3 in the penalty shootout after 120 minutes of extra time. He criticized, "Players from the Democratic Republic of Congo performed 'maraboutage.'"

Maraboutage refers to magical or shamanistic acts practiced in West Africa and other regions.

With this penalty shootout defeat, Nigeria's dream of securing a ticket to the 2026 North and Central America World Cup vanished, marking their second consecutive failure to reach the World Cup finals, while the Democratic Republic of Congo advanced to the intercontinental playoffs.

After the penalty shootout loss was confirmed, Coach Sell was seen approaching the opposing bench and strongly protesting to the Democratic Republic of Congo coaching staff.

After the match, in the mixed zone, Coach Sell said, "During the penalty shootout, someone from the Democratic Republic of Congo's side performed a shamanistic act. It happened every time. Such acts were distracting."

He added, "One of the Democratic Republic of Congo coaching staff members waved his hand as if sprinkling a liquid," and even mimicked the gesture.