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.
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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.
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Checks showed that the player whose image is circulating with a charm tied to his back is not the Ivory Coast goalkeeper.
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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.
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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.
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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
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The claim that the goalkeeper of Ivory Coast, Yahia Fofana, wore charms at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Nigeria is FALSE.
It claims that Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has ordered the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to resign.
The reason? A serious health condition.
The claim has triggered concern, speculation, and heated discussions online.
But is this true? Or is this another case of misinformation dressed as breaking news?
[Context Setup]
The report gained traction on social media platforms and was amplified by blogs and online outlets, including Dockays World and Sahara Reporters.
According to the claim, Governor Sanwo-Olu is critically ill, and the President has directed him to step down.
Given the political weight of both figures, this is not a minor claim.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu has served as Lagos State Governor since 2019 and was re-elected in 2023.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former Lagos Governor himself, assumed office as President in 2023.
So, a directive like this would be major national news.
We investigated.
[Verification Step 1: Health Claim]
First, we examined the claim that the governor is seriously ill.
There are no credible reports from verified medical, government, or reputable media sources indicating that Governor Sanwo-Olu is suffering from any critical illness.
But we went further.
[Verification Step 2: Public Activity Check]
We reviewed the governor’s recent public engagements.
Here is what we found:
On April 24, he swore in Permanent Secretaries and inaugurated the Lagos State Health Service Commission
He attended a Governance Advisory Council meeting at Lagos House
On April 26, he witnessed the signing of power purchase agreements
On April 28, he was inducted into the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers
These are not the activities of someone incapacitated by serious illness.
They indicate active governance.
[Verification Step 3: Official Communication]
Next, we checked for official confirmation.
There is:
No statement from the Presidency
No communication from the Lagos State Government
No directive from any federal authority
For a claim of this magnitude, silence from official channels is a major red flag.
[Verification Step 4: Direct Response]
We then checked for direct responses.
The Lagos State Government has publicly addressed the claim.
The governor’s media aide, Gboyega Akosile, described the report as false and misleading.
This is a clear denial from an official source.
[Verification Step 5: Media Cross-Check]
Finally, we reviewed coverage by major Nigerian media organisations.
Reputable outlets did not report this claim.
In journalism, absence of coverage by credible media—especially on a major political development—is significant.
It suggests the story lacks verification.
[Evidence Reveal]
So far:
No credible evidence of illness
Active public engagements by the governor
No official directive from the President
Direct denial from the Lagos State Government
No confirmation from credible media
The pieces do not support the claim.
[Verdict]
FALSE
There is no evidence that Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered Babajide Sanwo-Olu to resign. The report is based on unverified claims and has been amplified without credible backing.
Available evidence shows that the governor is actively performing his duties, and the Lagos State Government has already dismissed the claim as false.
Did Tinubu Order Sanwo-Olu To Resign? | Fact-Check & Debunk Explained
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My name is [Presenter’s Name]. Thank you for listening.
A Facebook post claims that Peter Obi is planning to leave the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to join the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Background
Peter Obi is a prominent Nigerian politician who served as Governor of Anambra State (2006–2014), was the vice-presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019, and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party Nigeria in 2023.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is a registered political party in Nigeria, while the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) is a newly registered party by INEC.
To verify the claim:
We checked Peter Obi’s official social media accounts, no announcement of defection.
We also reviewed official communication from the African Democratic Congress, no statement confirming any planned exit
We searched credible news platforms, no reports supporting the claim
The source, APGA Interactive Forum is known for misleading/unverified political posts.
What This Means
There is no verifiable evidence supporting the claim.
The information appears to be speculative or fabricated
The source lacks credibility
Verdict
False
There is no credible evidence that Peter Obi plans to leave the African Democratic Congress to join the Nigerian Democratic Congress.