Keypoints:
- Ghanaian witch doctor claimed he targeted Harry Kane before England faced Ghana
- Kane failed to score as England were held to a 0-0 draw
- The story has reignited debate about football folklore and media portrayals of African beliefs
A GHANAIAN witch doctor’s claim that he targeted England captain Harry Kane before Ghana’s World Cup clash with England has become one of the tournament’s most talked-about off-field stories after the striker failed to score in a goalless draw.
The claim was made by Nana Kwaku Bonsam in an interview with Britain’s Daily Star before the Group L encounter. The remarks were subsequently picked up by football outlets around the world, transforming a colourful pre-match anecdote into a global conversation.
While there is no evidence that any supernatural force influenced the result, the episode has highlighted the enduring place of folklore, belief and ritual in football culture, while also raising questions about how African spiritual traditions are portrayed in international media coverage.
Claim draws worldwide attention
According to the Daily Star, Bonsam said he was determined to prevent Kane from making a decisive impact against Ghana.
‘I am working on Harry Kane,’ Bonsam told the newspaper.
‘I have shown what I am capable of before so I know what work I must do to stop him.’
The spiritualist also insisted he was not attempting to cause serious harm to the England captain.
‘I am not wishing him serious injury. It will be just enough to stop him against my country. I will do my work so that it can help Ghana,’ he said.
The comments quickly circulated across football websites and social media platforms, where they were alternately treated as serious belief, gamesmanship, humour and publicity.
Bonsam is no stranger to international headlines. During the 2014 World Cup, he claimed responsibility for injury problems suffered by Cristiano Ronaldo before Portugal played Ghana, an allegation that was never substantiated.
Ghana frustrates England
What turned the story into a viral phenomenon was the outcome of the match itself.
England dominated possession but struggled to create clear opportunities against a disciplined Ghanaian defence. Kane endured a frustrating afternoon and missed a late chance as the match finished 0-0.
Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz credited the result to tactical discipline and organisation rather than anything supernatural.
‘The goal was to frustrate England and we succeeded,’ Queiroz said after the match.
The Portuguese coach praised his players for maintaining concentration throughout the contest and limiting England’s attacking threats.
His explanation offers the most plausible account of the result. Ghana defended compactly, denied England space between the lines and executed a game plan designed to frustrate one of the tournament favourites.
Social media embraces the story
The coincidence of Kane failing to score after becoming the target of a highly publicised spiritual challenge proved irresistible online.
Within minutes of the final whistle, social media users were sharing memes, jokes and commentary linking Kane’s performance to Bonsam’s pre-match remarks.
For many supporters, particularly in Ghana, the story became part of the theatre that surrounds major international tournaments. Others argued that the focus on a witch doctor distracted from Ghana’s impressive tactical display.
The debate also exposed differing views on how African cultural traditions are covered by foreign media. Some readers viewed the story as harmless football folklore, while others criticised what they saw as the continued exoticisation of African beliefs.
Football’s enduring superstitions
Football has long been shaped by ritual and superstition.
Players wear lucky boots, supporters follow matchday routines and coaches often cling to habits they believe bring good fortune. Across Africa, stories involving traditional spiritual figures have formed part of football folklore for decades.
Whether viewed as genuine belief, psychological gamesmanship or entertainment, such stories continue to capture public imagination because they sit at the intersection of sport, culture and identity.
There remains no evidence that Bonsam’s claim had any influence on the outcome. The verifiable facts are that he made the claim before the match, Kane did not score, and Ghana secured a valuable draw through disciplined defending and tactical organisation.
Yet those facts have not prevented the story from becoming one of the World Cup’s most memorable side narratives.
As England and Ghana move on to their next fixtures, the debate surrounding Bonsam’s comments is likely to endure as another chapter in football’s rich tradition of myth, superstition and folklore.
