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Discover the untold stories of five African footballers who used black magic, rituals and superstition to boost their careers.
Majority of footballers in Africa remain tight-lipped about the controversial topic of magic or superstition in football.
However, some have dared to discuss their encounters, often out of necessity, to highlight its darker consequences.
Despite promises of improved form, career breakthroughs, and stardom, testimonies suggest that using black magic leaves behind devastating repercussions—both personal and professional.
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In African football, where cultural beliefs intersect with modern sport, the use of charms and rituals is not uncommon.
Prepared in various forms—solid, liquid, or powder—these practices are conducted by medicine men who claim to possess supernatural powers.
While many players avoid the subject, a few have openly acknowledged their involvement with the occult.
Pulse Sports looks at five African footballers who used magic to aid their careers.
1.Taribo West
Taribo West had a 16-year professional career featuring stints at Auxerre, both Milan clubs and with Nigeria’s national team. Yet, behind his success lay a history steeped in rituals and black magic.
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West openly admitted to relying on voodoo during his playing days, revealing shocking details of his rituals.
“I used to get some Mallams and Babalawos (traditional doctors) to make charms for us, which we took to (national) camp. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t,” the UEFA Cup winner disclosed.
The former Enugu Rangers player recounted bizarre rituals, including cutting a tongue and cooking it, as part of his quest for on-field dominance.
“Football has to do with a lot of powers,” he explained.
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He even claimed club owners provided charms for players to wear under shin pads or socks.
Now a pastor, West reflects on his past with regret and warns young players about the consequences of such practices.
2. Andre Dede Ayew
The Ghanaian captain and Le Havre midfielder Andre Dede Ayew, despite his Islamic upbringing, was caught in a moment that raised eyebrows across the footballing world.
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Before a 2017 match against DR Congo, Ayew was filmed sprinkling white powder on the pitch while muttering words under his breath.
The incident sparked debates about whether the Black Stars' captain had turned to magic to influence the outcome.
Ayew’s father, the legendary Abedi Pele, condemned superstitions in football.
“I don’t think any such thing like juju works in football because it has been proved worldwide that we Africans have more juju than any other people, but we cannot win the World Cup," he said.
Yet, Ayew’s actions, which coincided with a victorious performance for Ghana, have left lingering questions about the extent of his faith in traditional practices.
3. Sam Johnson
Sam Johnson, a former Ghanaian international with stints at Anderlecht and in the Turkish league, has been remarkably frank about his use of juju during his career.
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Johnson, who represented Ghana 45 times, admitted to practicing black magic, though he later abandoned it.
“There is juju in football, and any footballer who says otherwise is a liar. I’ve practiced it before,” Johnson confessed in an interview with Happy FM’s Anopa Bosuo Sports.
“I used it to play football for a longer period, but it got to a time I decided to stop because it wasn’t helping like the way I anticipated.”
Now a born-again Christian, Johnson advises younger players to avoid such practices, noting that the game has evolved significantly since his era.
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His experience underscores both the short-term allure and the long-term futility of relying on superstition in professional sports.
4. Shiva N’Zigou
Few stories in the world of football are as shocking as that of Gabon’s Shiva N’Zigou.
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Once a promising talent, N’Zigou made headlines for horrifying revelations about his use of black magic.
In a confessional video, he admitted to committing unspeakable acts, including incest and the murder of his mother, as sacrifices for career advancement.
“I had [sexual] relations with my aunt; these relations happened again with my sister. I slept with my sister,” N’Zigou confessed.
He went on to admit, “I had another long-term relationship also with a man.”
N’Zigou’s case highlights the extreme lengths some players might go to in pursuit of success, serving as a grim reminder of the darker side of superstition in football.
5. Jean-Jacques Tizes and Emmanuel Adebayor
Ivory Coast’s former goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizes reportedly visited a cemetery to ward off evil spirits before an international match, as revealed in Didier Drogba’s biography.
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The act, though bizarre, underscores how deeply ingrained superstitious practices are in African football.
Meanwhile, Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor has faced his own struggles with the supernatural.
In a very public feud with his family, Adebayor accused his mother of witchcraft, claiming she was plotting his downfall.
“They should stop talking, talking; they should stop doing juju on me—they should leave me alone,” the former Premier League star wrote on social media.
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Adebayor’s claims were met with denial from his family, who accused him of being “brainwashed” by spiritual healers.
The feud illustrates the pervasive influence of superstition and its ability to tear apart even the closest of relationships.
Black magic in football remains a contentious issue in Africa. While some players swear by its efficacy, others, like Nigerian striker Brown Ideye, have spoken against it.
“I know players who get involved with the juju men, and they can’t get out. It’s a trap. They might get short-term benefits, but in the long run, they pay for it,” Ideye stated.
He added, “If things like that worked, then instead of Messi and Ronaldo winning world player of the year, it should be some African players.”
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