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The argument that voodoo does work in sports, especially football is as old as the game itself and even in this century the topic still lingers. While it is yet to be scientifically proven, the talks of voodoo being effective in the game never end, EBENEZER BAJELA writes
UFC star Israel Adesanya raised eyebrows in October when he publicly affirmed his belief in the spiritual force of ‘juju’ in combat sports.
Speaking on Joe Rogan’s podcast, the Nigerian-born fighter insisted that his rival Alex Pereira’s spiritual practices were real, pointing to eerily similar patterns in their fights, in which Pereira mounted seemingly miraculous comebacks.
“It’s his spirit, his whatever, like ancestors or his people that are praying for him” Adesanya told Rogan, acknowledging the power of spiritual forces in African and Brazilian combat tradition.
The former two-time UFC middleweight champion also acknowledged his spiritual practices, pinpointing his parents’ prayers and fasting on his behalf.
Adesanya spoke about this intersection of sports and spirituality, which isn’t unique to mixed martial arts.
Across African football, the practice of using traditional spiritual beliefs and rituals – commonly known as ‘juju’ – has long been intertwined with the beautiful game, sparking both fascination and controversy.
In many parts of Africa, the belief in voodoo and traditional spiritual practices extends beyond religion and has gradually found its way into the world of sports. Rooted in ancient African traditions, voodoo is often seen as a powerful force that can influence events, bring good fortune, or ward off bad luck. This belief permeates various sports, from football to athletics, where players, coaches, and even fans sometimes attribute victories, defeats, or performance anomalies to spiritual interventions.
In countries like Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal, athletes often seek the blessings of traditional healers or shamans before competitions. These practitioners perform rituals, provide charms, or give spiritual advice to enhance performance or protect against rival teams’ perceived curses. The widespread faith in these practices reflects the deep integration of spirituality into everyday life and highlights the cultural significance of sports as a battleground not only of physical prowess but also of spiritual influence.
In 2022, players and officials of Nigeria Premier Football League side, Kwara United, had more than a physical battle to contend with in Niamey during their second leg of the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup against AS Douanes of Niger.
The Afonja Warriors had other warriors to contend with in the form of two herbalists who bizarrely welcomed them.
Just moments before the kick-off, as players of the NPFL side alighted from their bus at the match venue, they were stunned as they saw fresh blood sprinkled on their path to the stadium.
In the video, two men – one holding a goat – suspected to be spiritualists, ran towards the Kwara United bus in an attempt to intimidate the visitors, but one of the team’s officials called the bluff of both men, with no police or security personnel around to protect the players.
Despite the awful act, Kwara United held on to keep a clean sheet to progress to the second qualifying round of the competition before being knocked out by Morocco’s Berkane.
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