Sports

Nigerian defender, Leon Balogun, believes Ghana used ‘juju’ to defeat Super Eagles during World Cup qualifiers

Published

2 years ago

December 9, 2022

Super Eagles of Nigeria defender, Leon Balogun, is of the belief that Ghana must have used “juju’, a kind of a spiritual belief system incorporating objects such as charms, amulets and spells used in traditional religious practices mostly in Africa, to beat the Nigerian team on away goal rules in their World Cup qualifying match player in match.

The Black Stars who crashed out of the Qatar 2022 World Cup after failing to make it out of the group, had beaten the star studded Eagles following a 1-1 draw in Abuja after a goalless draw in the first leg in Ghana.

Nigeria had looked in pole position to win the ticket to the Mundial after finishing top of their group in the second round of the CAF World Cup qualifiers. But even with the play-off draw pitting them against their bitter West African rivals, many thought the Super Eagles would prevail against Ghana.

In the first leg played in Ghana, the Super Eagles created loads of scoring chances but could not find the back of the net and in the second leg played at the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Nigerian capital, Ghana triumphed on away goal rule through a Thomas Partey goal with captain William Troost-Ekong equalising for the hosts.

Months after the huge disappointment, Balogun now thinks Ghana had employed black magic, commonly referred to as Juju in Africa, for the Eagles to miss so many scoring opportunities.

“We did go to Ghana to play the first leg and it was a tough game. You know there was this whole fuss about them changing the stadium at the last minute on Tuesday when they have never lost and they say whether juju may or may not have been involved also or whatever.

“It was tough for us. I can’t lie…..It was really tough and we ended up playing 0-0 after missing a lot of scoring chances. Maybe the used juju, I can’t say. Until this day, I don’t understand,” Balogun said in an interview with The Beautiful Game.

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Sports

TP Mazembe pip AS FAR to win African Women’s Champions League

Published

8 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Isaac Dachen

TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) became the third team to win the 2024 African Women’s Champions League after narrowly defeating AS FAR of Morocco 1-0 in the final played on Sunday at the El Jadida’s Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi Stadium.

TP Mazembe claimed the title for the first time courtesy of a 10th minute penalty which was converted by Marlene Kasaj after AS FAR captain Aziza Rabbah handled the ball in the box.

The Congolese side should have doubled their lead six minutes later when an unmarked Merveille Kanjinga fired wide from seven yards out before the more fancied home team gradually grew into the match and looked to cancel the deficit and add to their continental triumph in 2022.

But AS FAR put in a subdued display and failed to test Mazembe’s goalkeeper Fideline Ngoy, with tournament top scorer Doha El Madani who had netted six goals in their run to the final, wasting their best chance as she sliced a first-half free-kick wide.

With the triumph, TP Mazembe carted home the giant trophy and a cheque for $600,000 (£479,000) after the prize money was increased for the fourth edition of the tournament, while the AS FAR went home with $400,000 (£319,000).

Sports

Wafcon 2024 draw throws up interesting pairings

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The draw for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) holding in Morocco from July 5 to 26 next year which was held on Friday, threw up some interesting match-ups to look forward to as hosts Morocco found themselves in what has been described as the group of death.

The Atlas Lionesses will have to contend with Zambia, DR Congo and Senegal in Group A, while Group B has record 11-time continental champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria slugging it out with Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana, just as current defending champions, Banyana Banyana of South Africa will do battle with Ghana, Mali and Tanzania in Group C.

The top two sides in each group will progress to the quarter-finals, alongside the two best third-placed finishers.

Though qualification for the 2024 Wafcon was completed in December last year, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was forced to push the finals into 2025 because of international football’s congested calendar, which included the participation of Nigeria and Zambia at the Olympics.

Morocco also staged the 2022 edition of Wafcon, ending as runners-up, and former international Fatiha Laassiri believes home support will provide “a real advantage” next year.

Wafcon 2024 group draw with world ranking in brackets:

Group A: Morocco (hosts, 59), Zambia (62), Senegal (83), DR Congo (102).

Group B: Nigeria (36), Tunisia (78), Algeria (84), Botswana (153).

Group C: South Africa (holders, 50), Ghana (66), Mali (81), Tanzania (145).