Fufu for speed: Newcastle star and 3 top footballers who love the Nigerian delicacy

Nigerian fufu delicacy is fast becoming an off-pitch favourite among some European football stars, which makes it not just a staple at a dinner table, Soccernet.ng reports.

Earlier, Borussia Dortmund star, Karim Adeyemi, brought the Nigerian delicacy to the limelight by notably labeling it as a possible reason for his speed.

Lately, Newcastle star Alexander Isak has been spotted munching on the delicacy and finding joy in it.

Here are four stars who’ve publicly vibed on this starchy superstar meal:

1. Karim Adeyemi
After a dazzling Champions League display, Germany’s speedster Karim Adeyemi shocked fans by revealing the food as a secret behind his blistering pace.

Karim Adeyemi of Borussia Dortmund [Photo credit/Imago]
“I eat a lot of African food, but I have good genetics from my dad,” he told CBS. When pressed, Adeyemi didn’t hesitate: “It’s called fufu from Nigeria and also very good.”

The key to Karim Adeyemi’s speed… fufu! @karim_adeyemi tells @Nicocantor1 about his secret-weapon meal. pic.twitter.com/wtjrhaetHL

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 15, 2023

2. Alexander Isak
Swedish striker Alexander Isak took a break from terrorising Premier League defences to try some Nigerian cuisine, and the verdict was instant.

Newcastle United s Alexander Isak left scores his side s equalising goal from a penalty to make the score 1-1 during the Premier League 2024/25 League match between Southampton FC and Newcastle United FC [Photo credit/Imago]“Wow, this slaps!” he exclaimed after his first taste of Oha soup and fufu, courtesy of Newcastle teammate William Osula.

I don cook fufu and oha for my boys pic.twitter.com/j9sUi6Iahm

— Epl Pidgin (@EplPidgin) May 1, 2025

3. Joe Willock
The English midfielder nailed the iconic fufu hand-roll technique, which earned him nods of approval from Nigerian fans online. His fufu finesse might not earn him extra goals, but it’s earned him extra respect among a section of the Nigerian football community.

4. William Osula
The unsung hero of this culinary crossover is William Osula. The Danish-Nigerian forward brought his Newcastle teammates into his world, where he served them up a homemade dish of Oha soup and fufu that sparked viral reactions.

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories.

Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work.