African Football Discussion Thread Current Topic: 👉 AFCON 2025/2026

[Joy- maker]

I don't really understand what some Nigerians and the super Eagles coach is saying about DR Congo using voodoo in that match, which made them to qualify for the FIFA world cup competition for next year. but all I have to say here is that, wether DR Congo used voodoo or it was voodoo that use them nobody cares, DR Congo has qualified to participate in the upcoming FIFA world cup competition, and there is nothing anybody can do about that, so all this talks coming from some Nigerians, and the super Eagles coach is just fallacy, and it's high time they they  let it slide before things get out of hand. Let's stay cool and calm and wait for next year to come, let's see what DR Congo will play in the FIFA world cup competition, because it's not about qualifying while they can't even scale through the group stages of the competition.

[Adbitco]

These were games that would have projected to the top with lots of point difference and they would have been first in the group but they chose to play around and started getting serious almost when it's over.

A huge question now to be answered is if we will learn from this? If we will be better in the next four years to actually be in the world cup? or if it will be another disappointing phase.

If you want to hear my answer, I think we will not, I am even afraid that we may be worse then if the corruption in the NFF is not addressed. We should be addressing the root cause of our failure which is the NFF and their incompetence now if we want to make the next qualification. Many players who can make a difference for us will no longer be interested in National duty because of how bad the system is.

Do we even learn, of course not. They have learnt absolutely nothing, let's just imagine that the qualifiers match was really started from the scratch and all the teams were placed in the same group again, I can bet my chest that it will even be worse for them that they wouldn't finish second anymore but third. That's how bad we are at not learning from previous mistakes. This is the second WC in a roll that Nigeria is missing out on.

[DubemIfedigbo001]

I don't really understand what some Nigerians and the super Eagles coach is saying about DR Congo using voodoo in that match, which made them to qualify for the FIFA world cup competition for next year.

This is bullshit. If they haven't had history of bad performances, I'll have agreed that there's more to their loss, was voodoo used against them in their qualifying round too when they were playing like pregnant women? There's no justification to these claims, so they're complete bullshit to me.

 DR Congo has qualified to participate in the upcoming FIFA world cup competition, and there is nothing anybody can do about that

No they've not, they only advanced to the next stage of qualification which is intercontinental playoffs that would start by March, they would play against best losers from other continents too and that would seal their fate in the world cup.

[Adbitco]

I don't really understand what some Nigerians and the super Eagles coach is saying about DR Congo using voodoo in that match, which made them to qualify for the FIFA world cup competition for next year. but all I have to say here is that, wether DR Congo used voodoo or it was voodoo that use them nobody cares, DR Congo has qualified to participate in the upcoming FIFA world cup competition, and there is nothing anybody can do about that, so all this talks coming from some Nigerians, and the super Eagles coach is just fallacy, and it's high time they they  let it slide before things get out of hand. Let's stay cool and calm and wait for next year to come, let's see what DR Congo will play in the FIFA world cup competition, because it's not about qualifying while they can't even scale through the group stages of the competition.

DRC hasn't yet qualified for the WC, they only qualified as the country that will represent Africa in the Intercontinental play offs that will be coming up around March of next year. It's if they the scale through and win the matches, that's when they will qualify for the WC in July. Seriously, it's really a rigorous way, but it will be worth it if they finally get a ticket to the WC.

[IjawMan]

I had this projection that one of my Nigerian brothers will want to direct blames for the fate that engulfed the super eagles in the Congo - Nigeria match to the coach, and you have just approved it by making these claims on Eric Chelle who without his efforts Nigeria would not have made it to this stage.

Direct your blames to the people that created the genesis of the problem that led the super eagles to this shameful end. The NFF, Jose Peseiro, Finidi George if the first two coaches had won their matches from the beginning of the group qualifiers we won't be having Eric Chelle who won 14 points for Nigeria in addition to the 3 points Peseiro and Finidi could make of in 4 matches.

With Eric Chelle Nigeria won't have made it to the playoffs but Eric made sure Nigeria was able to but the super eagles players could not support the coach effort by winning Congo in a match that was not meant to go to penalty kicks.

Eric Chelle isn't really special, he is lucky to have Osimhen in form, Finidi George wasn't fortunate in that regard and was having issues with him. To be honest, I don't really consider both good, their tactics is still questionable and

The super eagles were in a precarious situation already before Eric was employed to manage the team and with my memory there were many Nigerians who did not had faith in Eric Chille saving Nigeria from the group stage qualifiers as a result of the grave damage done already by Jose Peseiro and Finidi George when the other teams have taken flights with points.

We all had our doubts but he was determined with his job than any of the previous managers, it is not about him been special to a fault with his tactics but he took the Nigerian super eagles beyond our projection. The players just could not play their part as a team in winning the Congo, the coach will not do everything for them.

I think it's high time the scouts scouted more players especially in the midfield.  Give more players chance and we can't continue to scream about certain players or positions year by year and no alternatives are being searched for or found.

The model with which the Nigeria male senior team players are selected to represent the nation in international matches are part of the challenges as to why the team cannot boast of vibrant quality players who are enthusiastic to play for the country like Victor Osimhen does.

So much nepotism and favouritism with lack of equal opportunities for both the homebase and foreign-base players to be selected by merit of their skillful abilities when it is about choosing players in camp is a big problem that the NFF has to sincerely attend to.

[Nightwatchmare]

I don't believe Voodoo works. If it did Congo would've used it to qualify since not until they play this play-off, Look how they struggled with penalty kicks before making it to the World Cup. I've noticed one thing about the Super Eagles we often have a bad manager, and players lack of seriousness used to contributes to their failure. We have talented players performing well in their clubs which If they played with seriousness, I don't see any African team challenging them. But they always fail to take it seriously, leading to disappointing performances, like what happened in the last AFCON.

If voodoo works in football, then African teams would have by now been the ones with the most World Cup, so this is all lies to just cover up his failure for the Nigerian team not being able to make it to the World Cup. We should just see the reality in that match, it was obvious that Congo took the control of the match in the second half with the Nigerian teams not being able to do anything again. When you’re not in possession of the match, it becomes very difficult to even think of winning the match. I saw a big rumour that FIFA will investigate the use of Voodoo by the Congolese national team as alleged by the Nigerian coach, and if found guilty, they’ll be disqualified for the World Cup and Nigeria will qualify. It was really a thing of shame and disgrace seeing that alleged news circulating.

If i were to be the congolese we will sue the Nigeria coach for making such statement that the congolese uses vodoo to win the super eagles in the penalty shot out, if this vodoo of a thing do work in football why has African nation not win the world till now, well i will say that our coach just wanted were he can channel his blame to, the super eagles of Nigeria never perform well against Dr congo. Congo deserve the winning and there is nothing vodoo in it.

What the super eagles coach said is so embarrassing to African football, and i agree with you that D.R. Congo should sue the super eagles coach so that he will provide evidence of how a D.R. Congo player used VOODOO in a penalty shootout between Nigeria and D.R. Congo in the play off finals, and if he can not provide convincing evidence which shows that D.R. Congo actually used VOODOO, he should be punished, and he should apologize to D.R. Congo and all African countries. Yeah, if VOODOO works in football, African countries should have used it and won the world cup since no African country has won the world cup.

[yixichloro2xx]

I don't really understand what some Nigerians and the super Eagles coach is saying about DR Congo using voodoo in that match, which made them to qualify for the FIFA world cup competition for next year. but all I have to say here is that, wether DR Congo used voodoo or it was voodoo that use them nobody cares, DR Congo has qualified to participate in the upcoming FIFA world cup competition, and there is nothing anybody can do about that, so all this talks coming from some Nigerians, and the super Eagles coach is just fallacy, and it's high time they they  let it slide before things get out of hand. Let's stay cool and calm and wait for next year to come, let's see what DR Congo will play in the FIFA world cup competition, because it's not about qualifying while they can't even scale through the group stages of the competition.

Those voodoo stuff were just talks it is time for Nigeria squad to know that they were not good, DRC played them alot from the second half to the extra time I didn't even see Nigeria squad creating chances after oshimen was subbed out. They keep defending a 1-1 draw as if they were a small team. I was really disappointed though. What I know is that intercontinental play off is not going to be easy, DRC will face teams that are outside Africa and the pressure won't be easy especially due to their Fifa rankings. They might drawn to strong national team.

[Callido]

DRC hasn't yet qualified for the WC, they only qualified as the country that will represent Africa in the Intercontinental play offs that will be coming up around March of next year. It's if they the scale through and win the matches, that's when they will qualify for the WC in July. Seriously, it's really a rigorous way, but it will be worth it if they finally get a ticket to the WC.

At the very best, they are ahead of all other three countries that contest for the Intercontinental play offs, and also some steps to make it into World Cup if they can actually prove it there, i give them my support in the play off contesting with other countries. Nigeria failed even with a second life and the last line of recovery we had, we couldn't make it the easy way how much more when things are tight up.

[Spaceman1000$]

I don't really understand what some Nigerians and the super Eagles coach is saying about DR Congo using voodoo in that match, which made them to qualify for the FIFA world cup competition for next year. but all I have to say here is that, wether DR Congo used voodoo or it was voodoo that use them nobody cares, DR Congo has qualified to participate in the upcoming FIFA world cup competition, and there is nothing anybody can do about that, so all this talks coming from some Nigerians, and the super Eagles coach is just fallacy, and it's high time they they  let it slide before things get out of hand. Let's stay cool and calm and wait for next year to come, let's see what DR Congo will play in the FIFA world cup competition, because it's not about qualifying while they can't even scale through the group stages of the competition.

DRC hasn't yet qualified for the WC, they only qualified as the country that will represent Africa in the Intercontinental play offs that will be coming up around March of next year. It's if they the scale through and win the matches, that's when they will qualify for the WC in July. Seriously, it's really a rigorous way, but it will be worth it if they finally get a ticket to the WC.

I've said these before now, the playoff opportunity is just a slim one when you look at it critically, the best option we had was to win through the qualifiers series which we lost, we should just take it in good faith and try our luck with the AFCON that will soon come up. Although Argentina went ahead to win the 2022 world cup after qualifying through playoff. But I don't even see DRC actually winning those countries at intercontinental playoff might sound a bit tricky.

[uche6215]

DRC hasn't yet qualified for the WC, they only qualified as the country that will represent Africa in the Intercontinental play offs that will be coming up around March of next year. It's if they the scale through and win the matches, that's when they will qualify for the WC in July. Seriously, it's really a rigorous way, but it will be worth it if they finally get a ticket to the WC.

At the very best, they are ahead of all other three countries that contest for the Intercontinental play offs, and also some steps to make it into World Cup if they can actually prove it there, i give them my support in the play off contesting with other countries. Nigeria failed even with a second life and the last line of recovery we had, we couldn't make it the easy way how much more when things are tight up.

Abeg look for another country to support and not DrC. They are like Nigeria who will left the scene at the group stage if they finally qualify in the World Cup. Countries like Morocco, Algeria and Ivory Coast are good to support. I put my full hope on Nigeria team to beat Dr Congo and I placed a bet with 4k and Super Eagles cut my slip. Tah they will not see my support again until I see a good Coach with standard team mates. Super Eagles didn't only cut my slip but also disappointed me for not qualifying in the World Cup. And one thing is that I didn't blame the Coach because he came at the deadline.
If he came at the beginning of the WCQ, things would have been better. Finidi killed the Team before he came.

[Mayor of ogba]

I don't really understand what some Nigerians and the super Eagles coach is saying about DR Congo using voodoo in that match, which made them to qualify for the FIFA world cup competition for next year.

DR Congo haven't yet qualified for the 2026 World Cup that will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico because they will still play in the intercontinental rounds. It is when DR Congo finishes as one of the best top two teams in the intercontinental rounds that they will book a spot in the next year's World Cup.

[Mr Reporter]

These were games that would have projected to the top with lots of point difference and they would have been first in the group but they chose to play around and started getting serious almost when it's over.

A huge question now to be answered is if we will learn from this? If we will be better in the next four years to actually be in the world cup? or if it will be another disappointing phase.

If you want to hear my answer, I think we will not, I am even afraid that we may be worse then if the corruption in the NFF is not addressed. We should be addressing the root cause of our failure which is the NFF and their incompetence now if we want to make the next qualification. Many players who can make a difference for us will no longer be interested in National duty because of how bad the system is.

Do we even learn, of course not. They have learnt absolutely nothing, let's just imagine that the qualifiers match was really started from the scratch and all the teams were placed in the same group again, I can bet my chest that it will even be worse for them that they wouldn't finish second anymore but third. That's how bad we are at not learning from previous mistakes. This is the second WC in a roll that Nigeria is missing out on.

This totally getting frustrated seeing Nigeria miss out on back‑to‑back World Cups feels gut‑punching, especially when it feels like we’re stuck in the same old loop. Do you think it’s more about coaching, player selection, or maybe the tournament format that’s keeping us from breaking through?
 This a totally disgraceful to see a well built country at large who couldn’t win little country like DR Congo.

[Tonimez]

The African cup of nations is fast approaching and groups seem to be nearly double ended I. The sense that every group has their giants and prey. Morocco in group A with Zambia, Mali and Comoros to oppress when the time comes. Nigeria seems to be the group C promising Top team for me with Tunisia, Tanzania and Uganda. Be it as it may, I think Nigeria still has the opportunity to top the group after the group stage. Cape Verde is missing in all the groups after qualifying for the world cup. Does it mean they did not qualify for the AFCON 2025. Again why is Morocco enjoying this level of privilege, hosting almost all the African games recently. Sources also said that Morocco will host the next Women AFCON. I know they have the infrastructure and FIFA rankings but I feel it's becoming so political and unfair.

Who will win the AFCON 2025?

[BitBakerr1]

These were games that would have projected to the top with lots of point difference and they would have been first in the group but they chose to play around and started getting serious almost when it's over.

A huge question now to be answered is if we will learn from this? If we will be better in the next four years to actually be in the world cup? or if it will be another disappointing phase.

If you want to hear my answer, I think we will not, I am even afraid that we may be worse then if the corruption in the NFF is not addressed. We should be addressing the root cause of our failure which is the NFF and their incompetence now if we want to make the next qualification. Many players who can make a difference for us will no longer be interested in National duty because of how bad the system is.

Do we even learn, of course not. They have learnt absolutely nothing, let's just imagine that the qualifiers match was really started from the scratch and all the teams were placed in the same group again, I can bet my chest that it will even be worse for them that they wouldn't finish second anymore but third. That's how bad we are at not learning from previous mistakes. This is the second WC in a roll that Nigeria is missing out on.

I really don't think I will be watching Nigerian match anymore what happened in the last match was so heartbreaking I could not sleep I thought about our lost throughout the night it was a very painful and sad moment for me I really don't want to go through what I went through when Nigeria lost Nigeria super eagles is always causing me pain, this was how they lost the African cup of nation last time a match we are winning with 1 goal on the first half and before you know it they started playing rubbish I really don't know what is Nigeria super eagles problem.
When I discovered Victor osimhen was not on the field anymore because of injury I lost hope I knew they will lose the match I was already in pain, well it is well but I really don't think I will watch Nigeria match again because of that pain I went through.

[Wakate]

Very funny, given the group that Nigeria was in the qualifiers and the kind of players they have I their ranks, I mean most of the players are playing in Europe's top flight respective leagues and we still struggle to qualify from that kind of a group. It's totally embarrassing on a serious note. Nigeria in the first place wasn't even supposed to be in the category of playing in the play offs, that's were they got it wrong in the first place.

Is that not funny to see a country that have different players in different leagues of the world and still struggling to qualify for the world cup? Well, you don't have to be surprised because this is a pure act of corruption. Who knows if these players have not being paid their wages and have to suffer, go for training and all other things for them to strive to qualify but still does not meet up with the fans expectations. I blame their poor performances on the government not the team and the coach.

[Agbe]

If voodoo works in football, then African teams would have by now been the ones with the most World Cup, so this is all lies to just cover up his failure for the Nigerian team not being able to make it to the World Cup. We should just see the reality in that match, it was obvious that Congo took the control of the match in the second half with the Nigerian teams not being able to do anything again. When you’re not in possession of the match, it becomes very difficult to even think of winning the match. I saw a big rumour that FIFA will investigate the use of Voodoo by the Congolese national team as alleged by the Nigerian coach, and if found guilty, they’ll be disqualified for the World Cup and Nigeria will qualify. It was really a thing of shame and disgrace seeing that alleged news circulating.

The Super Eagles coach was just expressing his frustration and looking at something to point as excuse for that bad performance that day. I laughed so hard when I watch the clip of him describing what he believe was the voodoo and his expression was not different from that of a frustrated coach. It was indeed disheartening for him and the entire team for Nigeria not to qualify for world cup and most of the players now would have been retired before the next world cup.

This is the height of irresponsibility coming from a national team coach, instead of saying that his team met a better side that was the reason why they could not perform. Puting the blame on voodoo is a joke to me he has not said anything about his teams performance but voodoo this doesn't speak well of his person because, this is simply shifting blame.

[Mr Reporter]

These were games that would have projected to the top with lots of point difference and they would have been first in the group but they chose to play around and started getting serious almost when it's over.

A huge question now to be answered is if we will learn from this? If we will be better in the next four years to actually be in the world cup? or if it will be another disappointing phase.

If you want to hear my answer, I think we will not, I am even afraid that we may be worse then if the corruption in the NFF is not addressed. We should be addressing the root cause of our failure which is the NFF and their incompetence now if we want to make the next qualification. Many players who can make a difference for us will no longer be interested in National duty because of how bad the system is.

Do we even learn, of course not. They have learnt absolutely nothing, let's just imagine that the qualifiers match was really started from the scratch and all the teams were placed in the same group again, I can bet my chest that it will even be worse for them that they wouldn't finish second anymore but third. That's how bad we are at not learning from previous mistakes. This is the second WC in a roll that Nigeria is missing out on.

I really don't think I will be watching Nigerian match anymore what happened in the last match was so heartbreaking I could not sleep I thought about our lost throughout the night it was a very painful and sad moment for me I really don't want to go through what I went through when Nigeria lost Nigeria super eagles is always causing me pain, this was how they lost the African cup of nation last time a match we are winning with 1 goal on the first half and before you know it they started playing rubbish I really don't know what is Nigeria super eagles problem.
When I discovered Victor osimhen was not on the field anymore because of injury I lost hope I knew they will lose the match I was already in pain, well it is well but I really don't think I will watch Nigeria match again because of that pain I went through.

lol sorry it looks funny but you should understand that this is the game of football already sometimes it comes with joy and sometimes it comes with sadness. Honestly speaking It really sucks seeing the Super Eagles fall apart when you’re cheering them on, especially after the hype and that early‑half lead. It’s like the whole team just… lost its spark. And it was really painful to see how the they mess up big time.

[Wakate]

lol sorry it looks funny but you should understand that this is the game of football already sometimes it comes with joy and sometimes it comes with sadness. Honestly speaking It really sucks seeing the Super Eagles fall apart when you’re cheering them on, especially after the hype and that early‑half lead. It’s like the whole team just… lost its spark. And it was really painful to see how the they mess up big time.

Yea the game of foot ball is not always certain to know what is going to happen in the next match or moment. We must have seen big big teams losing to small team we never thought about for a single second. Whatever outcome we get from our favorite team or league should not be what is going to make us emotional by feeling bad. Loses will come and winning will come so there is no need to be agitating on this painful loses.

[Onyeeze]

I don't really understand what some Nigerians and the super Eagles coach is saying about DR Congo using voodoo in that match, which made them to qualify for the FIFA world cup competition for next year.

DR Congo haven't yet qualified for the 2026 World Cup that will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico because they will still play in the intercontinental rounds. It is when DR Congo finishes as one of the best top two teams in the intercontinental rounds that they will book a spot in the next year's World Cup.

Dr Congo still have more two matches to play before they will be qualify for world cup, I think they are playing 1 from Asia and another from Europe, so with this I don't think that Dr Congo can be able to defeat Europe team, even though is the least European country Dr Congo can't defeat, my reason is that Dr Congo hierarchy of football can't be compared with some of the Europe country players, but in other ways, I will appluad Dr Congo for getting to this point, but they're not going to make it. They are performance in African competition can't be used to equate the foreign performance in football so that is why I said they cannot make it

[Mayor of ogba]

I don't really understand what some Nigerians and the super Eagles coach is saying about DR Congo using voodoo in that match, which made them to qualify for the FIFA world cup competition for next year.

DR Congo haven't yet qualified for the 2026 World Cup that will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico because they will still play in the intercontinental rounds. It is when DR Congo finishes as one of the best top two teams in the intercontinental rounds that they will book a spot in the next year's World Cup.

Dr Congo still have more two matches to play before they will be qualify for world cup, I think they are playing 1 from Asia and another from Europe, so with this I don't think that Dr Congo can be able to defeat Europe team, even though is the least European country Dr Congo can't defeat, my reason is that Dr Congo hierarchy of football can't be compared with some of the Europe country players, but in other ways, I will appluad Dr Congo for getting to this point, but they're not going to make it. They are performance in African competition can't be used to equate the foreign performance in football so that is why I said they cannot make it

Don't be in a hurry to conclude that DR Congo can't qualify for the World Cup because you don't know how DR Congo's two matches in the intercontinental rounds will end. Since I don't know the two teams DR Congo will be playing against in the intercontinental rounds, I can't really tell if DR Congo will qualify for the World Cup or not.