AFCON 2025
Wilfred Ndidi has laughed off Jamie Vardy’s recent claims about a mysterious “juju cream” used by him and Kelechi Iheanacho during their time at Leicester City, revealing that the supposed magical remedy was nothing more than shea butter.
The story emerged after former Leicester City captain Jamie Vardy recounted a humorous dressing room anecdote during a podcast appearance, claiming the Nigerian duo often relied on an unusual treatment for minor injuries.
According to Vardy, Ndidi and Iheanacho would occasionally return from Nigeria with a large container of cream that only the club’s medical staff were permitted to apply to affected areas.
“They used to get injured, just little knocks, then they’d go back to Nigeria for literally one day, come back, and they’ve got a nice big tub of juju cream,” Vardy said. “And that was the only thing that the masseuses were allowed to massage on the injured area. They used to tell us it had come from a Nigerian witch doctor.”
The comments quickly gained traction on social media, with fans amused by the image of Leicester City’s medical team swapping conventional sports creams for what Vardy described as a traditional Nigerian remedy.
However, Ndidi was quick to set the record straight.
Responding to the viral clip on social media, the Super Eagles midfielder dismissed suggestions of any mystical origins behind the cream.
“It was a jar of shea butter,” Ndidi wrote, referring to the natural product popularly known in parts of Nigeria as Ori.
Shea butter, derived from the nuts of the shea tree, is widely used across West Africa for its moisturizing and soothing properties. While there is limited scientific evidence supporting its use in treating sports injuries, it remains a staple household product for skin care and minor discomfort.
The light-hearted exchange has offered fans a nostalgic glimpse into Leicester City’s dressing room during one of the club’s most successful periods. Vardy, Ndidi and Iheanacho were all members of the squad that won the FA Cup in 2021, the FA Community Shield later that year, and secured promotion back to the Premier League by winning the EFL Championship in the 2023/24 season.
Since leaving Leicester, the trio have gone their separate ways. Ndidi recently completed a move to Turkish side Besiktas, while Iheanacho’s future remains the subject of transfer speculation following his spell in Scotland. Vardy, meanwhile, remains one of the most celebrated figures in Leicester City’s history.
Although Vardy’s “juju cream” story was told in jest, Ndidi’s clarification has ensured that one of Nigerian football’s funniest dressing room myths now has an official explanation: it was simply shea butter all along.
