A strange twist around Kane
Harry Kane’s World Cup campaign has taken in goals, records and now a claim of supernatural interference.
Ghanaian spiritualist Nana Kwaku Bonsam says he has lifted a hex he previously claimed to have placed on the England captain before the group-stage meeting between England and Ghana.
According to UNILAD’s report by Kit Roberts, Bonsam said he had targeted Kane before the match, which ended in a goalless draw.
There is no evidence that any curse affected Kane or England. The claim is best understood as part of the colourful folklore that often surrounds major football tournaments, rather than as a serious explanation for what happened on the pitch.
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Kane misses late chance
The story gained attention after Kane missed a late opportunity against Ghana.
England had started the tournament with a 4-2 win, but they were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana in their second match. Kane had a chance to win it, but could not keep his effort down.
“I was waiting for an opportunity like that to fall my way. It did and I just couldn’t quite get over the ball,” Kane said after the match.
“But I’ve been a striker long enough to know they don’t always go in.”
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The miss led to jokes and speculation online, with some linking it to Bonsam’s earlier comments. Kane himself did not suggest anything unusual had happened.
Bonsam says spell is over
After the Ghana match had passed, Bonsam claimed he had released Kane from the alleged curse.
“Now I am going to release Harry Kane so that, his next match, he can score,” he said.
The spiritualist also insisted there were no hard feelings.
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“Harry, I will come and visit you. Don’t be offended. We are friends,” he added.
Bonsam has made similar claims before. He previously said he had used spiritual powers against Cristiano Ronaldo before Ghana’s match against Portugal at the 2014 World Cup.
Kane scores against Panama
Whether by coincidence or not, Kane did score in England’s next match.
According to England Football, Kane headed in England’s second goal in a 2-0 win over Panama, moving past Gary Lineker to become England’s all-time leading scorer at the men’s World Cup.
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The goal arrived five minutes after Jude Bellingham had opened the scoring, sealing top spot in the group for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
For England, the important part was not the talk of curses, but Kane’s response. After frustration against Ghana, the captain did what he has done throughout his career: he found the net again.
The story may be unusual, but England will care far more about the fact that their main striker is scoring as the knockout stage approaches.
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