“‘Magic,’ ‘sorcery,’ and ‘witchcraft’ come up over and over again in discussions about football in Africa. They are allegedly widespread in the African game and make for intriguing and controversial debates. In the ongoing African Cup of Nations, religion has made an appearance: a Ghanaian Christian prophet predicted a player’s demise, and the Egyptian Football Association sacrificed a cow to bring luck to the national team. The prophecy did not come to pass and Egypt was knocked out by the DR Congo. This might be a good moment to reassess debates about religion and spirituality in African football and find better ways to think about them. One perspective is that football ‘sorcery’ is a harmless practice that adds color and uniqueness to the African game and aids in players’ psychological preparation. However, debates about the morality and appropriateness of football ‘magic’ are highly charged. …”
Africa Is a Country