News
Did Ivory Coast Goalkeeper wear charms at AFCON Final?
Did Ivory Coast Goalkeeper wear charms at AFCON Final?
Social media is buzzing with a video insinuating that the goalkeeper of Ivory Coast, Yahia Fofana, wore charms at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Nigeria.
The claim is FALSE
Ivory Coast emerged victorious on Sunday Feb. 11 against Nigeria defeating the Super Eagles 2-1.
The circulating video showed a goalkeeper with jersey number I6 and Name tag “ASC JARRAF”. The goal keeper had a black object strapped to his waist with a white rope.
Many Nigerians including former senator and activist, Shehu Sani, have reacted to the video on Twitter urging the International Football Federation (FIFA) to investigate the allegation of usage of “juju” (charm) by the goalkeeper of the Ivory Coast.
Checks showed that the player whose image is circulating with a charm tied to his back is not the Ivory Coast goalkeeper.
This is corroborated by the lineup for the AFCON final which revealed that the goalkeeper for Ivory Coast was Yahia Fofana and not the goalie in the viral video.
Yahia Fofana (born 21 August 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ligue 2 club Angers. He was born in France, but he plays for the Ivory Coast national team.
Further findings showed that the inscription on the jersey which shows ACF JARAAF (Association Sportive et Culturelle Jaraaf) is a Senegalese professional football club based in Dakar. They play in the top division in Senegalese football
CONCLUSION
The claim that the goalkeeper of Ivory Coast, Yahia Fofana, wore charms at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Nigeria is FALSE.
African News
✴️ Ep.116– Does Viral Video Show a Market Between Congo and Gabon Where Parents Sell Their Children?
A viral video claims to show a “child market” between Congo and Gabon where parents allegedly sell their children. But is this true?
In this episode of WABMA Fake News Debunker (Ep. 116), we carefully examine the footage, verify available evidence, and separate fact from fiction.
🔍 What we investigated:
- The viral video and its visual details
- Reports from credible international media
- Data from global child-protection organizations
- Any evidence of a “child market” in the Congo–Gabon region
❌ Our Verdict: FALSE
There is no verified evidence that such a market exists. The viral video does not prove child trafficking and has been shared without proper context.
⚠️ Why this matters:
Misinformation like this spreads fear, reinforces harmful stereotypes, and distracts from real child protection issues.
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A troubling image circulating online shows American YouTube star IShowSpeed wearing a Nigerian jersey. His face appears bruised. The caption is alarming. It claims he was attacked by road gang members in Nigeria while livestreaming along Ikoyi Road, Lagos.
It suggests that visiting Nigeria was unsafe. It paints a picture of chaos.
The post originates from an X account, @iamMrMarfo1. From there, it spreads.
But what really happened?
First, let’s examine the context.
IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., was recently in Lagos. He celebrated his 21st birthday. He surpassed 50 million YouTube subscribers. On December 29, 2025, he launched a 20 country African tour in 28 days. On January 21, he livestreamed from Balogun Market in Lagos Island. Crowds gathered. Security escorted him. The scene was intense but public.
Soon after, posts claimed he had been attacked.
The circulating images appeared to show facial injuries.
WHAT WE CHECKED
We examined the footage. According to reporting by Agence France Presse, the images were doctored. AFP traced the visuals back to specific timestamps in the original livestream. Moments at approximately 4:21:32 and 4:21:36 were manipulated to create the bruised effect.
AFP journalists who were physically present in Lagos during his visit reported that they did not witness any attack. They also heard nothing to suggest that an assault occurred. The altered images did not only appear in English. They spread in French, Arabic, Spanish, Hausa, and Zulu.
WHAT WE FOUND
It is important to note that IShowSpeed has faced disruptions during other international visits.
In Algeria, he was struck by thrown water bottles during a football match. In Norway in 2024, he experienced an incident outside a shop.
But those are separate events.
There is no credible evidence that he was attacked in Nigeria. No verified report. No confirmed injury. No authenticated footage. The viral image was manipulated.
Verdict: False.
When dramatic images circulate, especially those that inflame fear or damage reputations, verify before sharing.
Screenshots can be altered.
Livestreams can be edited.
Context matters.
This claim does not hold.
✴️ Ep.116– Does Viral Video Show a Market Between Congo and Gabon Where Parents Sell Their Children?
✴️ Ep.116–WABMA Fake News Debunker;
