In a shock result, unfancied Niger (FIFA ranking: 154) ran out 1-0 winners over current champions Egypt (FIFA ranking: 9) in their 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying game last Sunday.
Rather than pinning the blame on Egypt’s lacklustre start to the tournament, some locals are adamant foul play was involved, pointing to a black goat which was paraded around the pitch by a ‘local witchdoctor’ (above) before the game kicked off.
Rumours quickly spread the goat was part of a black magic ritual – sorta like the pigeon Algeria sent to curse England to damnation – and grew loud enough that a spokesman for Africa’s version of UEFA, the CAF, was forced to go on radio and downplay the goat’s role.
Conferdation of African Football technical director Mostafa Abdul-Menem told Egyptian radio:
I really don’t see the reason why we are talking about some goat.
Of course it’s the match commissioner’s responsibility to make sure that only the players are on the pitch, but it’s no big deal after all.
Did the goat cause Egypt to lose?!