Did Ivory Coast, goalkeeper Fofana wear charm in AFCON final against Nigeria?

Social media platforms are abuzz with a video insinuating that Yahia Fofana, the goalkeeper of Ivory Coast, wore a charm during the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Nigeria, where Ivory Coast emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over the Super Eagles.

The video purportedly shows a goalkeeper with jersey number 16 and the name tag “ASC JARRAF,” sporting a black object strapped to his waist with a white rope.

Numerous Nigerians have reacted to the video on Twitter, with former senator and activist Shehu Sani even calling for FIFA to investigate the alleged usage of “juju” (charm) by the Ivory Coast goalkeeper.

However, investigations by Daily Trust have debunked these claims. The player seen in the video with the charm is not Yahia Fofana, as corroborated by the lineup for the AFCON final, which confirmed Fofana as the goalkeeper for Ivory Coast.

Yahia Fofana, born on August 21, 2000, is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ligue 2 club Angers. He represents the Ivory Coast national team. Notably, Fofana gained attention during Ivory Coast’s match against Senegal when he saved two penalties to propel his team to the quarterfinals.

Furthermore, the inscription on the jersey, “ACF JARAAF” (Association Sportive et Culturelle Jaraaf), belongs to a Senegalese professional football club based in Dakar, Senegal, indicating a misidentification of the player in the viral video.

In conclusion, verification by Daily Trust has refuted claims that Yahia Fofana, the Ivory Coast goalkeeper, wore a charm during the AFCON final. The video circulating on social media features a different player, and there is no evidence to support the allegations of charm usage.