Taribo confirms using charms to play

Taribo admitted contacting marabouts and herbalists to help him play better than his colleagues and even win matches for the country and his various clubs.

Also notable of his football active days was his crazy hairstyle, which stood him out of the pack, but little did many know about his involvement in occultism.

Taribo in his words said “Of course yes (I was involved). I don’t know why people decline to talk about their involvement with charms; Football has to do with a lot of powers. When there are big events, you look at the stadium, you see people, fans invoking all kinds of things; magicians are there, voodooists are there.

In my playing days, when I was ignorant, I used to get some mallams and babalawos (traditional doctors) to make charms for us, which we took to (national) camp. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.

‘In some clubs, before every game, the president or leader of the club will give you a lucky charm to play with. They will tell you to put it in your boots or socks and play. It’s their superstitious belief; that it can help them win matches.