President
General of the Nigerian Football Supporters’ Club, Rafiu Ladipo has admitted
that for many years Nigeria used black magic, popularly known as Juju, to win
matches.
General of the Nigerian Football Supporters’ Club, Rafiu Ladipo has admitted
that for many years Nigeria used black magic, popularly known as Juju, to win
matches.
Speaking on a Lagos Television (LTV)
programme Tuesday, Ladipo who has been leading Nigeria’s cheer party for over
two and half decades now admitted to the use of juju in the team but was quick
to admit that the practice has now been discarded on realising that there was
no place for voodoo in football.
programme Tuesday, Ladipo who has been leading Nigeria’s cheer party for over
two and half decades now admitted to the use of juju in the team but was quick
to admit that the practice has now been discarded on realising that there was
no place for voodoo in football.
Ladipo is regarded as the country’s
foremost cheer leader who has travelled the world leading thousands of
supporters to cheer Nigeria to victory.
foremost cheer leader who has travelled the world leading thousands of
supporters to cheer Nigeria to victory.
“I was carrying Super Eagles juju for
so many decades until we came to realise that juju doesn’t play football,”
Ladipo said on the television programme.
so many decades until we came to realise that juju doesn’t play football,”
Ladipo said on the television programme.
“We have decided to put a stop to it
as there are no links between football and voodoo.
as there are no links between football and voodoo.
“Now we believe only in praying and
fasting to help Nigeria win their matches.”
fasting to help Nigeria win their matches.”
Nigeria has won the Africa Cup of
Nations twice, on home soil in 1980 and in Tunisia in 1994.
Nations twice, on home soil in 1980 and in Tunisia in 1994.
There have been various allegations
that players also employed juju to win places in the national team ahead of
their rivals.
that players also employed juju to win places in the national team ahead of
their rivals.
In 2010, former World Cup star Taribo
West told a local newspaper how he sought spiritual powers in Senegal at the
height of a career which took him to the likes of Inter Milan, AC Milan, AJ
Auxerre and Kaiserslautern.
West told a local newspaper how he sought spiritual powers in Senegal at the
height of a career which took him to the likes of Inter Milan, AC Milan, AJ
Auxerre and Kaiserslautern.
Ladipo will lead about 300 supporters
to Nelspruit, South Africa, to cheer the Eagles to victory in this month’s
Africa Cup of Nations.
to Nelspruit, South Africa, to cheer the Eagles to victory in this month’s
Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Eagles are drawn in Group C
along with champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. They open their
campaign on January 21 against Burkina Faso.
along with champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. They open their
campaign on January 21 against Burkina Faso.
Source:
Thisday
Thisday
