Ghana's self-proclaimed witch doctor, Nana Kwaku Bonsam, has claimed responsibility for a curse he allegedly placed on England captain Harry Kane. The boast came ahead of England's World Cup match against Ghana, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Bonsam stated he was working a spell to stop Kane from scoring, but not to cause serious injury.
During the match, Kane had a significant opportunity to break the deadlock in the closing stages. After a teammate's header struck the woodwork, the ball fell to Kane, who then missed the target with a shot taken with his left foot. The incident led to speculation on social media, with some fans joking that the witch doctor's alleged curse had been effective.
Bonsam, who previously claimed responsibility for Cristiano Ronaldo's knee injury at the 2014 World Cup, told the Daily Star that his work was intended to "help Ghana" by preventing Kane from scoring against the team. He asserted his fame for predictions and his capability to stop Kane.
Uri Geller, a psychic, publicly stated his intention to counteract any negative spiritual interference aimed at Kane. Geller reportedly planned to send vibrations and activate his powers to shield the England captain from such influences. However, these efforts were apparently unsuccessful, as Kane missed the late chance and had a limited overall impact on the game.
Following the match, Bonsam announced his intention to release Kane from the curse. In a video shared on Facebook, the spiritualist stated he would allow Kane to score in his next match, referring to Kane as a "friend." Bonsam claims his powers originate from the Kofi Oo Kofi shrine and has referred to himself as "Africa's only Authentic Man."
Supernatural intervention was also a topic of discussion for Ghana during their earlier World Cup match against Panama. A supporter went viral for performing rituals described by viewers as black magic. Shortly after, Ghana scored a 95th-minute winning goal, sparking theories that the ritual had been successful.