In a strange news story that combines sports and spiritual traditions, journalist Romain Molina revealed that the Senegalese Football Federation invited 17 marabouts (known as “sorcerers and magicians” or traditional Sheikhs) to Tangier during the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, with the aim of enhancing the chances of the Teranga Lions to win.
According to the same journalist, these 17 marabouts were summoned and financially honored from tax money paid by over 20 million Senegalese citizens. This measure comes as part of the “spiritual preparations” for the Senegalese national team.
The journalist stated that these sorcerers were among many guests of the Senegalese Federation, who were hosted in several areas in Tangier.
An Old Tradition in Senegalese Football
Resorting to marabouts is a deep-rooted tradition in Senegal and West African countries, where they are viewed as spiritual intermediaries capable of warding off envy or attracting luck. The Senegalese national team had previously benefited from such practices in past tournaments, especially after winning the Africa Cup in 2021. However, the controversy this time arose due to the use of public funds for this purpose, at a time when Senegal faces multiple economic and social challenges.
