FORMER Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has fired back at Nigerian head coach Eric Chelle over his controversial claim that “voodoo” contributed to Nigeria’s failed World Cup play-off bid against the Democratic Republic of Congo, branding the assertion as “ridiculous” and “a lame excuse.”
News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Chelle’s comments, made after the Super Eagles’ agonising elimination, triggered widespread outrage across the football community, with fans, pundits, and ex-internationals accusing him of trivialising Nigeria’s shortcomings.
Mikel, speaking on his popular podcast, became the most prominent voice to challenge the coach’s remarks.
Reacting with disbelief, the former Chelsea midfielder dismissed the suggestion that supernatural influence decided the match.
“If voodoo works in football, do you know how many World Cups Africa would have had?” Mikel said. “What a ridiculous excuse. I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw the comment.”
Instead, Mikel pointed to internal failings poor preparation, organisational lapses within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and ill-timed player protests as the real reasons behind Nigeria’s defeat.
In the days leading up to the decisive fixtures, the Super Eagles had boycotted training sessions in Morocco to protest long-standing unpaid bonuses and allowances, some of which reportedly dated back years.
The standoff disrupted their preparation for both the crucial encounter against Gabon and the subsequent tie against DR Congo.
Mikel said the timing of the players’ agitation was disastrous.
“The Super Eagles lost because they chose the wrong time to fight for their bonuses and allowances. That’s not when you do that,” he stressed.
He accused the NFF of chronic mismanagement, saying administrators had failed repeatedly to create a stable and professional environment for the team.
“This will continue to happen because we have the wrong people in charge of our football. Even if you resolve the money issues before the match, the damage is already done to the players’ mentality,” he added.
Mikel’s remarks have added fresh pressure on the NFF and intensified calls for a complete overhaul of football administration in Nigeria.
With Nigeria once again failing to secure a World Cup ticket, a painful setback for fans, many are now demanding accountability from both the technical crew and the football federation.