DR Congo beat Nigeria on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the African play-off in what was one of the biggest upsets of the World Cup qualifying state as the African country with a population of well over 200 million missed out on next year’s competition.
However, the bigger story came after the final whistle was blown as Chelle claimed that throughout the entire penalty shootout, DR Congo’s players were performing acts of “voodoo”.
"The guy of Congo did some voodoo," former Mali international Chelle told reporters in the post game media mixed zone.
"Every time, every time, every time, so this is why I was a little nervous (of) him."
“Something like that…(shakes his fist in the air). I don’t know if it’s water or something like that.”
Defeat means Nigeria miss out on consecutive World Cups, having failed to qualify for Qatar 2022 as well. DR Congo will now go on to the inter-confederation play-offs in March, with Bolivia and New Caledonia already qualified for that stage.
Meanwhile, Nigeria will have to wait another four years in a story that has not only stunned Africa, but the world. They will now turn to the Africa Cup of Nations next month as they try to turn the nation around in Morocco.