Sunday, July 12, 2026

Juju scare during encounter with Cameroon mere distraction, says Falcons midfielder

“We believe in God and in God we stand.’’

• February 27, 2024
Deborah Abiodun
Deborah Abiodun [Photo: Complete Sports]

Super Falcons midfield maestro, Deborah Abiodun, has said the juju-like drama which unfolded in their match against Cameroon was a mere distraction by their opponents.

The nine-time African champions, Super Falcons piped Cameroon’s Lionesses 1-0 in a crucial second leg Women’s Olympic football qualifier, after a pulsating encounter in Abuja.

There was however a little drama which unfolded at the start of the second half inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

This was after a Cameroonian player attempted to plant a juju-like material at the Super Falcons’ goal post.

It was a move probably targeted at Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie who had kept the Cameroonians at bay in Douala and Abuja.

The attempt was however checked and possibly the efficacy of the charm was diluted as Nnadozie prevented the Lionesses from breaching her goal.

Abiodun told journalists during a post-match conference that the move by the visitors was a tactic deployed to distract the Falcons.

She however said that it failed to yield any positive result for the Cameroonians as the Falcons were fully focused.

“We kind of saw it as a point of distraction in the game and were able to keep our focus high, regardless of whatever they believed in. We believe in God and in God we stand and put our trust. With God all things are possible. So, we don’t care about the voodoo,” she said.

She said that it was a great privilege for her and her colleagues to be part of the team.

The Pittsburgh Panthers midfielder was in full flow in the middle of the park.

Crisp with her movements, hard to shake off the ball, and always looking for forward passes.

Her dominance waned after Christy Ucheibe was drafted back to the defence following an injury to centre-back Oluwatosin Demehin.

(NAN)

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