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DR Congo team manager, Dodo Landu, has defended himself after being accused of attempting “spiritual interference” during the nail-biting World Cup playoff between Nigeria and DR Congo that ended in a dramatic penalty shootout.

The match finished 1-1 after a draining 120 minutes, sending both sides into a tense shootout that the Congolese won 4-3.

Emotions peaked when Nigeria’s coach, Eric Chelle, confronted Landu moments after Chancel Mbemba scored the decisive penalty. Chelle believed Landu’s gestures on the touchline were an attempt to influence the kick through spiritual means.

Landu explained the moment in simple terms: during Mbemba’s run-up, he whispered a prayer, something Chelle misinterpreted in the heat of battle.

“During Chancel’s penalty, I was praying for him to score. Immediately, the Nigerian coach thought I was performing voodoo,” Landu told Soccernet, calling the misunderstanding bizarre and unnecessary.

He insisted his actions were nothing more than natural emotion from a staff member under immense pressure as the game reached its breaking point.

Nigeria’s miss, a saved effort by Semi Ajayi, paved the way for Mbemba’s match-winning strike, sparking jubilation in the DR Congo camp and booking them a place in next year’s intercontinental playoffs.

In a gracious turnaround, Chelle later issued a public apology, admitting the pressure of the moment clouded his judgement and acknowledging his respect for DR Congo’s staff.

Nigeria, meanwhile, will now shift their focus to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they face a tricky group featuring Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania, alongside heavyweight contenders like Senegal, Morocco, Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire.