It only took one internet deviant strike to lose your mind. When Harry Kane scored a golden chance in the stands as England drew 0-0 with Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, fans didn’t just see a missed opportunity; they saw something unusual. Within minutes, social media was flooded with memes claiming Kane was a victim of ‘juju,’ a form of spiritual influence rooted in parts of West African culture. And yes, Conspiracy theories got wild, fast.
The instigator of the riot was none other than Nana Kwaku Bonsam, a self-proclaimed Ghanaian magician with a larger-than-life reputation. Before the match, he confidently claimed that he used Kane to stop him from scoring. Not to injure him, he explained, just enough to throw him off his game, and the fans didn’t forget.
So when the late Kane traveled in disgrace, the timing seemed very right. And it also caused memes, jokes, and viral threads asking: Was it just a bad finish or something else? Inside the stadium, the mood was jovial as an England fan reportedly joked to a Ghanaian supporter, “Oh, the magic works.” Finally he joked, “No spell friend, he needs shooting practice.”
Brother!!! π https://t.co/9ALJ1yBXWv pic.twitter.com/mSa8CeJiXr
β π Ghana π¬π (@xghana_) June 24, 2026
Ghana are having a lot of fun at the World Cup so far π¬π
Don’t sleep on Black Stars π pic.twitter.com/LNA3N83wU8
– ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 23, 2026
Even when the “curse” story exploded online, many fans especially Ghanaians, were quick to laugh it off. Some England supporters even jokingly asked if they could “learn magic” to use against future opponents.
Juju in football: Myth or mind games?
Although the internet regards it as comedy gold, the idea of ββjuju in football is not entirely new. In all parts of African football culture, spiritual beliefs have long been linked to the game. Stories of charms, rituals, and “lucky” items have been around for decades, sometimes dismissed as superstition, other times taken seriously by players and fans alike. There have been controversies in the past, from teams allegedly consulting spiritual advisors to mysterious on-field events involving objects believed to carry symbolic powers. But soccer The authorities have tried to distance the game from such acts, emphasizing fair play and professionalism.
The British camp could not resist relying on the narrative. After the match, Declan Rice joked, “I don’t know Ghana, they defended well. We tried everything. Shots, headers, and set pieces, nothing worked. I don’t know, maybe the magic worked!”
The true story behind the viral moment
Take away the memes, and the truth is less mysterious. Ghana defended brilliantly, England struggled to convert, and Kane, one of the world’s best strikers, missed a chance at the worst possible time. But football thrives on drama, and sometimes, the truth isn’t as fun as a good conspiracy theory.
Africans right now as Ghana competes with England pic.twitter.com/q8AOGIAkaN
β Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) June 23, 2026
Thanks to him, Ghana got a point against England. π¬π pic.twitter.com/g97cUAXol7
– World Cup 2026 (@ofootball__) June 23, 2026
Harry Kane missed a goal after Ghanaian healer Nana Kwaku Bonsam claimed he would curse him:
“I am working for Harry Kane. I will do my job so that it can help Ghana.” π pic.twitter.com/6ToRwULA6j
β My Mixtapez (@mymixtapez) June 24, 2026
A local healer standing and cursing Kane: pic.twitter.com/DIzN8EQqae https://t.co/q1i8vOV9Mb
– Sk π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ Ώ June 23, 2026
The Ghanaian magician said Harry Kane wouldn’t score… and it really happened π pic.twitter.com/xM9u0iarF2
– RUTH π¨π¦ (@it_Rutie) June 23, 2026
THE MAGIC HAS DELIVERED
BE CAREFUL WITH GHANA π¬π pic.twitter.com/QoqeSUTfUF
– Martinalgui (@MartinoliCuri) June 23, 2026
UNCLE PLEASE SHOOT THE POWDER EVERYWHERE https://t.co/3jqLAygBwX
β Nanaβ· βββ π (@YOONGIS_HH) June 23, 2026
“How did Harry Kane miss that” pic.twitter.com/CIHuRF8ocH
– Novig (@Novig) June 23, 2026
Try amπππππ₯π₯π₯ https://t.co/xcaBZYwuWv pic.twitter.com/ATQrvjEMbx
– BaRoNπ€‘β (@the_baronb) June 23, 2026
Find this person and arrest him pic.twitter.com/JnNUz9xeAu
– Adika (@Adikastakes) June 23, 2026
FIFA, I want this person to be investigated immediately pic.twitter.com/RgyupQ0dga
β (fan) Trey (@UTDTrey) June 23, 2026
This guy alone made Ghana qualify for the shootout ππpic.twitter.com/lYTF6Zmr1A
β ΝΝΝπβ‘π² β (@cagiago_) June 23, 2026
Cryyyy moreeeeeeeπππ https://t.co/Q4zBypZMYo pic.twitter.com/PdvpXveV88
– BaRoNπ€‘β (@the_baronb) June 23, 2026
I sigh he deadarse gave it https://t.co/lcsuZMdLEA
– B (@utdbrxy) June 23, 2026
This guy is working ππ¬ππ pic.twitter.com/UZgfbJrdLH
– Mami Amah π (@ItsAmahAdoma) June 23, 2026
England: I don’t believe that anything worked against Ghana
Random group of Ghanaians: pic.twitter.com/ZsdY96mcxP
– Troll Football (@TrollFootball) June 23, 2026
It didn’t work πππ https://t.co/EfzAMwgAn3
– Janty (@CFC_Janty) June 23, 2026
So was Harry Kane cursed? Maybe not.
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