By Adebayo Abubakar
AS Douanes of Niger Republic have decided to go fetish against Kwara United football club of Nigeria, in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup, CAFCC, in order to overturn a 3-0 deficit, handed them last week in the 1st leg of their encounter, in Lagos.
Coming to the returning leg, billed to kick off, in less than one hour from now, as players of Kwara United prepared to alight from their bus, two Marabouts, hired by the host team could be seen, sprinkling blood of “God-knows-what”, on the players and the ground, where they would inevitably match.
This could be seen in viral video, shared on social media by the Kwara United officials at the scene. The chairman of the Nigerian side, Clement Kumbi could be seen, remostrating with the Marabouts, for the barbaric and superstitious act.
There has been a lot of debates as to the efficacy of “Juju”, charms in football. But whether it works or not, is not the issue at stake, as the act is capable of subjecting the players to psychological trauma, that would tremendously affect their performance on the field of play.
This must therefore, not be allowed to slide, without lodging an official complaint with the Confederation of African Football, CAF with a view to the governing-body, taking a necessary disciplinary action against the Nigeriens.
Kwara need to avoid a defeat or ensure they do not lose with as many as three-goal margin scoreline, to advance to the next round of the competition.
The match kicks-off, 15hour GMT, and 16hrs Nigerian time.
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