What is fufu, the dish that powers Karim Adeyemi’s quick steps?
The 21-year-old said that his quickness and tempo were due to his consumption of the well-known African dish.
On Wednesday night, Karim Adeyemi made headlines for two related reasons after Borussia Dortmund’s match against Chelsea.
Adeyemi was the only goal scorer in the match when his post-match remarks went viral, mostly among Nigerians on social media.
The 21-year-old gave Dortmund the lead in their Champions League round of 16 match against Graham Potter’s team with a brilliant solo strike that displayed his extraordinary speed and judgement.
After gaining possession of the ball in his half, Adeyemi went on a single run and dribbled past Kepa Arizabalaga and Enzo Fernandez to find an empty net.
Adeyemi made news after the game by attributing his goal to his consumption of fufu.
Adeyemi responded to the CBS reporter who posed the question, “I think it’s a little difficult for you to get. I eat a lot of African food but I have good genetics from my day.”
“It’s called fufu from Nigeria and also very good,” Adeyemi responded when asked which African dish she was referring to.
Fufu: What is it?
It’s not quite accurate, despite Adeyemi’s assertion in the interview, that the dish originates from Nigeria. Although fufu is a meal that is famous in Nigeria, it is connected with West Africa as a whole.
Additionally, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Angola, and Gabon are among the countries where the dish is well-liked.
Indeed, there are accusations that the food came from Ivory Coast and Ghana. The beauty of the cuisine, though, is that it is prepared differently in every nation.
How is fufu constructed?
As mentioned above, the ingredients vary from nation to nation even if they come from the same place. For instance, fufu is produced from fermented cassava in Nigeria, but plantains or cocoyam are used in Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
How should you consume fufu?
Soup is the ideal meal to pair with fufu. While there are other soups that go well with fufu, the most popular ones are vegetable and egusi. It can also be consumed with draw soup, okro, bhanga, or afang soup.
Is it well-liked among players from Nigeria?
Yes, a lot of Nigerian celebrities eat fufu and other swallows, or solid meals. In addition to Adeyemi, photos of Alex Iwobi consuming the meal have also surfaced.
Anthony Joshua, a Nigerian-born British heavyweight boxer, was also spotted consuming eba (garri), another type of Nigerian swallow. Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen’s preferred food is amala, which is another type of swallow.
Does what Adeyemi stated about fufu give you wings?
Not really. Fufu is primarily composed of water and carbs, hence it is unlikely to provide an athlete quick legs. Given the nutrients it contains, though, an athlete is probably going to gain energy and endurance from it.
