Ex Ghana Star Opens Up on How ‘Juju’ Denied Black Starlets FIFA U17 World Cup Trophy
- A former youth star has opened up about how Ghana missed out on winning the FIFA U17 World Cup in 1997
- According to the retired footballer, the country lost the final against Brazil due to spiritual reasons
- Prior to losing the 1997 U17 World Cup final, Ghana had won the title twice, in 1991 and 1995
Former Ghana U17 standout Johnson Eklu has revealed an intriguing premonition he had before the Black Starlets’ loss in the 1997 FIFA U17 World Cup final.
The ex-player, pivotal during the tournament, attributed the team’s defeat to supernatural interference, commonly referred to as "juju" in local parlance.
Source: Getty Images
Ghana loses U17 final to Brazil
Ghana, a dominant force in youth football at the time, had clinched the trophy twice and was poised for a third triumph in 1997.
However, their aspirations were dashed in the final against Brazil, where goals from Matuzalém and Andrey eclipsed Owusu Afriyie’s first-half strike, sealed a 2-1 victory for the South Americans, per FIFA.
How 'juju' cost Ghana in the 1997 final
Revisiting the match nearly three decades later, Eklu disclosed a conversation with then-head coach Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie, who had foreseen their defeat.
According to the late tactician, spiritual sabotage orchestrated by certain football stakeholders had doomed their chances even before the first whistle.
“Coach Afranie secretly told me that Brazil would beat us. He mentioned that some football leaders and coaches had used 'juju' to sabotage the team," Eklu shared, as reported by Ghanaweb.
"He shared this information with me, and it turned out to be true after our loss to Brazil in the final,” he added.
Did Johnson Eklu play in the final?
Johnson, who had made his mark by scoring Ghana’s opening goal of the tournament against Bahrain, was notably absent in the decisive encounter.
A red card received during the quarter-finals against Oman ruled him out, denying the Starlets a player who had been integral to their run.
Ghana's football history and juju
Eklu’s insights bring a fascinating angle to Ghana’s storied history in youth football, where tales of mysticism often intertwine with on-pitch achievements.
Essien completes UEFA programme
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that former Ghana international Michael Essien has completed his UEFA Football in Management Certificate course.
The Chelsea legend has been acquiring knowledge in football management as he builds his career as a coach. Essien is hoping to make a successful career in management as he did in his playing days.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
