England held scoreless as Ghana's ‘Black Magic’ story captivates fans

Ghana's impressive defensive display against England has become one of the biggest talking points of the FIFA World Cup—not only because of the result, but also because of a bizarre pre-match prediction from a self-proclaimed Ghanaian spiritualist.

Ahead of the Group L clash in Boston, Ghanaian traditional priest Nana Kwaku Bonsam claimed he knew how to stop England captain Harry Kane, saying he had previously demonstrated his powers and would use them to help his country without causing the striker any harm.

Hours later, Ghana produced one of the tournament's standout results, holding tournament favourites England to a goalless draw. The result followed Ghana's 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening match, leaving the African side unbeaten and among the few teams yet to concede a goal in the expanded 48-team World Cup.

The match also marked a rare off-night for Kane, who struggled to influence the game and failed to convert the limited opportunities that came his way. His best chance sailed over the crossbar as England's attack repeatedly came up short against a disciplined Ghanaian defence.

The coincidence between Bonsam's prediction and the outcome quickly sparked debate on social media, with fans jokingly linking England's frustrating night to the spiritualist's claims.

Adding to the intrigue, videos circulating online appeared to show Ghanaian supporters in the stands scattering white powder and performing rituals during the match. The scenes prompted widespread discussion, with some drawing comparisons to traditional African spiritual practices commonly referred to as "juju."

England midfielder Declan Rice added further fuel to the conversation after the match. Reflecting on England's inability to score, he joked that perhaps "black magic" was at work after his side failed to convert a series of chances despite dominating large stretches of the contest.