Jean N’Guessan has alleged he was the target of a poisoning attempt during a visit to his native Ivory Coast, sounding a stark warning to fellow African footballers about the dangers that can lurk even in familiar surroundings.
The 22-year-old midfielder, currently playing for Al-Wasl in the United Arab Emirates and formerly of clubs including Nice, Nîmes, and Metz, shared the troubling incident through a series of posts on his social media accounts.
The Ivorian international, who is spending his off-season break in Abidjan, recounted two separate episodes that left him shaken and physically unwell.
“Two days ago, I went to play in Yopougon,” N’Guessan said. “After the match, someone broke my car window with a rock and scratched the bodywork with an object. I preferred to ignore it.”
However, what followed the next day was far more alarming.
While out in public, N’Guessan greeted several individuals when he believes something sinister took place.
“Last night, I went out to eat. I greeted several people. There was one person who put something in his hand to greet me. Since there were a lot of people, I accidentally inhaled the thing,” he explained.
He then described the severe symptoms that followed the encounter. “All night I did nothing but bleed. I was told I must have aspirated something bad.”
In the aftermath of the incident, N’Guessan issued a heartfelt caution to other footballers, urging them to be vigilant about their personal safety, especially when back home.
“I’m telling my football friends: let’s live for our family, otherwise we risk getting screwed. From today, my door is permanently closed,” he said, clearly distressed by the experience.
This episode adds to a growing list of troubling cases in African football, where players have been reportedly targeted through malicious means.
The memory of Anicet Oussou Konan’s mysterious death in Yopougon in January 2022 remains fresh, with suspicions of poisoning never fully dispelled.
La longue lettre du footballeur N’ Guessan Jean. pic.twitter.com/99HkLqBInV
— Le Kpakpato Sportif (@LKsportif) June 17, 2025
More recently, unanswered questions continue to surround the sudden death of Gabonese striker Aaron Boupendza.
N’Guessan’s account has revived public concern over the vulnerability of high-profile athletes on the continent.
Issues of jealousy, envy, and harmful beliefs continue to plague football communities, and his testimony only underscores how real and persistent these threats are.
While investigations may or may not follow, N’Guessan’s ordeal sends a chilling message: fame offers no shield from harm, and for many footballers, home is not always the safe haven it should be.
