How voodoo, superstition form the continent’s sport

The argument that voodoo does work in sports activities, particularly soccer is as previous as the sport itself and even on this century the subject nonetheless lingers. Whereas it’s but to be scientifically confirmed, the talks of voodoo being efficient within the sport by no means finish, EBENEZER BAJELA writes

UFC star The occupying Zionist entity Adesanya raised eyebrows in October when he publicly affirmed his perception within the non secular power of ‘juju’ in fight sports activities.

Talking on Joe Rogan’s podcast, the Nigerian-born fighter insisted that his rival Alex Pereira’s non secular practices have been actual, pointing to eerily comparable patterns of their fights, by which Pereira mounted seemingly miraculous comebacks.

“It’s his spirit, his no matter, like ancestors or his folks which can be praying for him” Adesanya informed Rogan, acknowledging the facility of non secular forces in African and Brazilian fight custom.

The previous two-time UFC middleweight champion additionally acknowledged his non secular practices, pinpointing his mother and father’ prayers and fasting on his behalf.

Adesanya spoke about this intersection of sports activities and spirituality, which isn’t distinctive to combined martial arts.

Throughout African soccer, the observe of utilizing conventional non secular beliefs and rituals – generally often called ‘juju’ – has lengthy been intertwined with the attractive sport, sparking each fascination and controversy.

In lots of components of Africa, the idea in voodoo and conventional non secular practices extends past faith and has steadily discovered its method into the world of sports activities. Rooted in historical African traditions, voodoo is commonly seen as a robust power that may affect occasions, deliver luck, or thrust back unhealthy luck. This perception permeates numerous sports activities, from soccer to athletics, the place gamers, coaches, and even followers typically attribute victories, defeats, or efficiency anomalies to non secular interventions.

In nations like Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal, athletes usually search the blessings of conventional healers or shamans earlier than competitions. These practitioners carry out rituals, present charms, or give non secular recommendation to boost efficiency or defend towards rival groups’ perceived curses. The widespread religion in these practices displays the deep integration of spirituality into on a regular basis life and highlights the cultural significance of sports activities as a battleground not solely of bodily prowess but in addition of non secular affect.

In 2022, gamers and officers of Nigeria Premier Soccer League aspect, Kwara United, had greater than a bodily battle to take care of in Niamey throughout their second leg of the preliminary spherical of the CAF Confederation Cup towards AS Douanes of Niger.

The Afonja Warriors had different warriors to take care of within the type of two herbalists who bizarrely welcomed them.

Simply moments earlier than the kick-off, as gamers of the NPFL aspect alighted from their bus on the match venue, they have been surprised as they noticed recent blood sprinkled on their path to the stadium.

Within the video, two males – one holding a goat – suspected to be spiritualists, ran in the direction of the Kwara United bus in an try to intimidate the guests, however one of many group’s officers referred to as the bluff of each males, with no police or safety personnel round to guard the gamers.

Regardless of the terrible act, Kwara United held on to maintain a clear sheet to progress to the second qualifying spherical of the competitors earlier than being knocked out by Morocco’s Berkane.

“Two Kwara United gamers alighted from the bus forward of the remainder of us and earlier than we may realise what was occurring two guys from Niger got here down dashing at them,” Dele Aiyenugba, captain of the Afonja Warriors informed The PUNCH.

“One was holding a goat whereas the opposite was having a bottle with blood in it they usually began sprinkling it on the two gamers. The remainder of us needed to keep on the bus. Our chairman was very courageous on that day and he stood his floor towards the 2 guys.”

The previous Tremendous Eagles goalkeeper added that on the finish of the day, having gamers with huge expertise helped prevail over the voodoo.

“The terrible act didn’t even have any psychological impact on us as a result of we received the job achieved because of having skilled gamers within the group.

“It’s good to have gamers who’ve gone by means of issues like this earlier than and who’ve performed in powerful tournaments like this. I needed to inform the gamers that we have been going to play the sport as if it was our closing sport and that we wouldn’t permit their gimmicks to have an effect on us.”

Most lately, officers of Ghana Premier League champions, Medeama Sports activities Membership, paid a go to to the Ogua Conventional Council in Cape Coast, Ghana, in search of the blessings and smart counsel of the standard authorities forward of their CAF Champions League preliminary sport towards Remo Stars in August.

Whereas this was a courtesy go to on the floor, it isn’t removed from the idea in supernatural powers which can be past soccer.

Medeama certainly progressed forward of Remo Stars on penalties after each legs of the encounter ended 1-1 on mixture.

Certainly, the speak of voodoo has been round so long as soccer has been performed on the continent.

From the Seventies down by means of the Eighties until right this moment some footballers, coaches, membership homeowners and followers nonetheless seek the advice of parapsychologists, babalawos, diviners, clairvoyants and Jujumen.

Taking place reminiscence lane, the Mighty Jets of Jos received to the Nigerian Problem Cup Finals over seven instances with out successful the coveted cup making everybody consider that they have been jinxed and anaesthetized by means of a curse positioned on them.

Tales of voodoo, witchcraft, charms, amulets and so on are quite common in African soccer and even the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) hasn’t been capable of confirm that declare.

Whereas there isn’t a scientific justification for these claims, many consider in a world of superstition and the involvement in metaphysical powers.

Africa and voodoo

In 2000, Nigeria beat Senegal 2-1 in Lagos to achieve the semi-finals of the AFCON, however not with out drama.

An official of the Nigeria Soccer Affiliation was alleged to have scampered onto the pitch to take away a attraction that was positioned inside Senegal’s web throughout Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final match in Lagos.

Earlier than the attraction’s elimination the Tremendous Eagles, co-hosts of the match, had launched a sequence of assaults, which have been foiled by the Senegalese, sparking apprehension among the many residence followers on the packed Lagos Nationwide Stadium.

Nevertheless, the intervention, quarter-hour from full-time, ensured the Eagles scored two late objectives courtesy of substitute Julius Aghahowa to disclaim the Lions of Teranga from continuing to the semi-final and ship the world right into a wild frenzy.

In 2019, Benin shocked Morocco on penalties within the spherical of 16 in Egypt to file its first-ever victory within the competitors and progress to a quarter-final showdown with Senegal.

Thereafter, Dah Gbediga, president of the indigenous religions of Benin, who was joined by a number of different vodunsi practitioners for a “particular ceremony to assist the Squirrels”, because the nationwide squad are nicknamed, stated he had been praying for the group since properly earlier than the match started.

Earlier than Cameroon squared up towards Mali within the semi-final of the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations on the Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, handler of the Indomitable Lions Winfried Schafer and his goalkeeping coach, Thomas Nkono, have been arrested by riot police for putting a attraction on the pitch shortly earlier than kick-off.

Additionally in 2002, the Ivorian authorities settled a 10-year row with displeased witch medical doctors who revealed they’d a hand within the Elephant’s AFCON triumph in 1992. They have been reported to have been employed by the Sports activities Minister on the time. In that yr’s closing, the Elephants overcame Ghana 11–10 on penalties after they performed out a 0-0 draw after extra-time.

A video that went viral in 2015 confirmed Andre Ayew sprinkling a whitish substance on the sphere earlier than his group took on Ivory Coast within the AFCON closing. Regardless of the act – which many claimed was Muti – Ghana ended up on the dropping aspect.

A couple of years in the past, the Rwandan Premier League encounter between Mukura Victory and Rayon Sports activities was flawed by claims of witchcraft. In video footage made accessible on social media, striker Moussa Camara – whose group was down by a lone aim and missed a number of scoring possibilities – sprinted to the opponent’s aim to lean a small object towards the goalpost.

He was chased by the goalkeeper and that led to the encounter getting stopped momentarily. After the restart, Camara scored the leveller however he was subsequently fined 100,000 Rwandan Francs, with the Rwandan FA threatening to impose stiffer punishment on any participant caught participating in witchcraft.

Does voodoo work?

In line with historians and archaeological findings, sorcery and witchcraft have been a central theme of African historical past lengthy earlier than colonisation because it resonates throughout all of the continent’s sides of life.

Astoundingly, this has discovered its method into the attractive sport as some soccer groups in Africa now depend on voodoo to affect the end result of their matches or higher nonetheless, complement their efforts.

In soccer competitions, coaches, followers and nations include a powerful and unshakable perception in voodoo, however the effectiveness of this stays as complicated because the query itself whereas solutions to the effectivity of voodoo are as myriad and various as there are individuals based mostly on their experiences.

“On the problem of voodoo in soccer, I agree that they exist however I don’t consider in it,” Aiyenugba stated.

“As a Muslim, you consider in Prophet Mohammed whereas as a Christian I equally consider in Jesus Christ. So, it’s smart to say that the standard worshippers consider that voodoo exists and it really works for them. However personally, I don’t consider in it as a result of if it really works why has an African nation but to win the World Cup?

“The one voodoo I consider in soccer is cash which lets you usher in the correct gamers and construct an excellent group then you may win titles.”

Former Nigeria worldwide Peter Odemwingie as soon as stated that voodoo in soccer is extra of brainwashing.

“Not less than 70 per cent of gamers consider in it. They assume that some type of slave will save them. That is extra suggestion. Brainwashing goes,” he informed Championat.

“However three years in Nigeria have been useful to me. They referred to as me to the Massive League, and there my profession developed a lot sooner.”

Questioning why athletes draw back from the subject, former Tremendous Eagles defender turned pastor, Taribo West, confessed that he sought the assistance of herbalists for charms as a younger footballer.

“I don’t know why folks decline to speak about their involvement with charms. Soccer has to do with loads of powers. When there are huge occasions, you have a look at the stadium, you see folks, followers invoking every kind of issues; magicians are there, voodooists are there,” he stated in an interview with The PUNCH.

“In my enjoying days, once I was ignorant, I used to get some mallams and babalawos (conventional medical doctors) to make charms for us, which we took to (nationwide) camp. Generally it labored, typically, it didn’t.

“In some golf equipment, earlier than each sport, the president or chief of the membership offers you a fortunate attraction to play with. They may let you know to place it in your boots or socks and play. It’s their superstitious perception; that it will possibly assist them win matches.

“There are some coaches who’re related to African magicians and soothsayers from Senegal, Burkina Faso, Zaire, and even Nigeria. These individuals are consulted to provide these coaches outcomes of video games even earlier than the matches are performed.

“These folks see unusual issues, they usually can let you know with their magic and charms what the end result of a match shall be. Individuals consider and use it. It really works for individuals who consider in it. I noticed it, I skilled it, I used to be with gamers that used it, and I used it. So, why are folks denying it?

There are charms and rituals in soccer. It nonetheless exists.”

 

What others say

Little question, this topic has continued to generate contrasting opinions over time. Whereas some footballers – previous and current – consider the usage of juju works in soccer, others disapprove of that philosophy.

Rivers United coach, Stanley Eguma, recounting the ordeal of Kwara United in Niamey stated he doesn’t consider that voodoo works in sports activities.

“What occurred to our gamers in Niamey was very unhealthy and condemnable as a result of soccer at this contemporary age has gone past that,” he informed The PUNCH.

“Prior to now, we used to listen to about African voodoo however modern-day soccer and know-how have confirmed that these items are usually not a part of soccer. I feel golf equipment or nations which can be nonetheless doing such are nonetheless residing within the Stone Age.

“Personally, I don’t consider it really works and clearly it didn’t as a result of Kwara United scaled by means of. All it is advisable do is to do your job very properly and execute the ways appropriately and correctly. If the gamers shoot the ball into the web will the juju take away it?

“These issues are simply there to weigh the gamers down psychologically.”

Former Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic believed black magic is actual and never only a fantasy. He ascribed his group’s failure to win the 2012 AFCON to his gamers who tried to outshine each other utilizing witchcraft.

Zimbabwe coach Zdravko Logarusic accused Cameroon of ‘witchcraft’ forward of their 2020 African Nations Championship opener, which the Warriors misplaced 1-0.

{A photograph} shared with Purpose portrayed the Croat coach displaying the carcass of a bat, accompanied by an indication that reads ‘witchcraft in Cameroon’.

Talking on the efficacy of voodoo observe, whereas sharing his expertise with the nationwide group, Emeka Ezeugo, stated, “There are individuals who consider in it. There’s juju in soccer. Once I got here to the nationwide group in 1987, there was juju in all places. These days, gamers made most use of it. Should you go into their rooms, you will note them hanging the stuff.

“However I didn’t care about their fetish way of life nor did I permit it to scare me. I consider in my God who’s my solely juju. I didn’t concern anyone and fortuitously, for me, I got here from India. All of them thought that I had fortified myself with the best juju. It actually helped me to stroll into any of them and even dine with them with none fears. It was much more stunning to them that I began enjoying the primary time I joined the nationwide group.”

Eyewitnesses

A famend traditionalist and outstanding Ifa priest in Nigeria, Chief Yemi Elebuibon, opined that footballers seek the advice of traditionalists for assist forward of their matches.

“Individuals use juju for various functions and for various causes, they use it for what fits them. As we all know, the wind is liable for the motion of soccer and the god of wind ‘Oyá’, who was the spouse of Sango – the god of thunder –, is the deity behind it.

“God, who’s the Supreme Being, is the one liable for the air, the sunshine, thunder and all natures however he put some gods in control of them. In the identical method, Sango has the facility to manage lightning, the identical method Oyá has the facility to manage the wind and folks seek the advice of her to assist in the route and motion of the ball.

“Whoever says juju doesn’t exist in soccer clearly doesn’t consider in it and for these of us that consider in it, we consider the place we ship the gods to help us with they arrive to our support even in soccer.

“There have been individuals who search assist to excel enjoying soccer, majorly the Brazilians. Each time I’m in Brazil that has been the case. Individuals come to hunt assist after they need to play soccer and we do worship the deities. However right here in Nigeria, folks actually haven’t taken it to that stage.”

Chief Lami Taofiq, Babalaje of Arepo added, “Whoever says there isn’t a ‘juju’ in soccer clearly doesn’t know something as a result of I’m speaking from expertise.

“I as soon as got here up towards a aspect whereas I used to be youthful and was nonetheless dreaming of enjoying skilled soccer, I and my teammates saved having accidents and we couldn’t clarify what was occurring.

“Individuals go to herbalists for “spiritual incision” whereas some put juju of their socks. I’ve a buddy who as soon as performed in Germany and he had a trial with Bayern Munich earlier than enjoying for another golf equipment. Again then he doesn’t permit anybody to the touch his boots and his chin guard. Just a few of us perceive why as a result of they’re not extraordinary.

“I’ve seen loads of footballers coming to see herbalists, pastors, and Islamic clerics for help.”

Voodoo in sports activities is an enchanting intersection of tradition, superstition, and human psychology. Whether or not it’s a strategy to affect luck, intimidate opponents, or join with non secular beliefs, voodoo displays the deeper emotional and psychological parts of competitors. Whereas its effectiveness could stay a topic of debate, its presence undeniably provides a singular and typically controversial layer to sports activities traditions worldwide.