The result of an All African Games qualifier between Nigeria and Ghana has been hotly disputed after 'mysterious objects' were found in the dressing room, according to reports in the Niger Delta Standard.
Nigeria, who had chalked up a 3-1 first leg advantage, saw their lead overturned by a 2-0 loss in Kumasi, but their captain Kingsley Udoh blamed the defeat on black magic being transmitted through 'mysterious objects'.
"We had to dress up for the game outside the dressing room because the Ghanaians deposited 'juju' in the room and we didn't want to touch it" claimed the Nigerian skipper.
Goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai was also put off his stride after succumbing to the voodoo spell:
"We were not in the match because some of us were not able to handle the horrific scenes that we saw when we entered the dressing room. We saw charms and imagine the fear that could generate for young chaps like us."
But after an FIFA investigation by local official Goodluck Obadiah, the 'mysterious objects' had their black magic status revoked.
The 'juju' objects were identified as a jockstrap and a pair of socks belonging to QPR's Nigerian defender Danny Shittu.
The pieces of sportswear had been left unattended in a locker from a previous defeat against The Ivory Coast, and, according to Ghanaian Head Coach Laughter Chilembe:
"had attracted fungi after not being picked up by the cleaners."
