{"id":14793,"date":"2026-07-14T08:31:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T01:31:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/?p=14793"},"modified":"2026-07-14T08:31:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T01:31:34","slug":"what-ghanas-world-cup-juju-man-tells-us-about-sport-and-spirituality-in-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/what-ghanas-world-cup-juju-man-tells-us-about-sport-and-spirituality-in-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"What Ghana\u2019s World Cup \u2018juju man\u2019 tells us about sport and spirituality in\u00a0Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"a
A Ghana fan blows white powder into the air during the Ghana-England match at the FIFA World Cup on June 23, 2026. (Thogden\/YouTube)<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the most notable figures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup emerged during Ghana\u2019s first match of the tournament: the \u201cjuju man,\u201d Kailani Ibrahim Kpa, who was famously seen blowing white powder into the air during the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another Ghanaian, Nana Kwaku Bonsam, went viral just before the match for claiming to have placed a curse on England\u2019s captain, Harry Kane. Bonsam is a particularly media-savvy Twi traditional priest and one of the most recognizable faces of what is commonly called \u201cwitchcraft\u201d or \u201cjuju\u201d in African soccer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juju quickly became a topic of conversation and fascination for millions of soccer fans around the world, particularly after Kane failed to score and the match ended in a draw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>
View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/a>

A post shared by ESPN FC (@espnfc)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n