After Nigeria’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers following a loss to DR Congo, Coach Éric Chelle was seen in a heated exchange with a DR Congo official. Chelle took to Instagram to address the incident and clarify his actions.

The Nigerian coach explained that the confrontation stemmed from a dispute with a Congolese staff member who attempted to enter his technical area during the match. Chelle admitted his frustration got the better of him in the heat of the moment but emphasized that he never intended to target the Congolese people or their staff.

“Football is all about emotions. After the match, I reacted in the heat of the moment because of a run-in with a DR Congo staff member who was trying to enter my technical area. I never meant to target the Congolese people or their staff, whom I respect,” Chelle said in his post.

While disappointed by his team’s elimination, Chelle expressed pride in his players’ efforts throughout the campaign. He also extended his congratulations to DR Congo for their qualification and praised the passionate support from both fanbases.

“Congratulations to DR Congo for their qualification. Football is about passion, and both sets of fans showed incredible support for their teams,” Chelle added. “Now, it’s time to turn the page and move forward.”

Chelle had been unbeaten in his previous ten matches as Nigeria’s head coach before the loss to DR Congo.