Colombian fans, shaman climb hill to pray for World Cup qualification

Dozens of Colombian football fans, accompanied by a self-proclaimed shaman, ascended Monserrate hill in Bogotá on Thursday. Their mission: to pray for the national team's advancement to the World Cup's knockout stage and, as they stated, to "counteract" the supposed rituals of a Ghanaian witch doctor.

The pilgrimage, promoted on social media, saw fans clad in the national team's colors trekking the 1,605 steps to the sanctuary. At the summit, a man identifying as a shaman, adorned in animal skins and a traditional sombrero vueltiao, led prayers for the team's protection.

"With the power of the yellow fever, I declare today here before the fallen lord of Monserrate. Amen, amen, and amen. Keep away the vipers, keep away the serpent, the rattlesnake; keep it away from the Colombian team because today, tomorrow, and always we are here with the Tricolor. Yellow, blue, and red, that's how my heart dresses," he proclaimed to the press.

The fans' actions were partly a response to the controversy surrounding Ghanaian witch doctor Nana Kwaku Bonsam. He had claimed to have "cursed" English striker Harry Kane before a match, which went viral on social media. While the match ended in a draw, the incident fueled the fans' desire to perform their own spiritual countermeasures.

This event underscores the fervent passion for football in Colombia, where spiritual leaders are sometimes called upon for public events. Similar rituals have been performed in the past to influence weather during official ceremonies, demonstrating a cultural willingness to seek supernatural aid for significant national endeavors.