In a posthumous nod that blends football cheekiness with Ghanaian musical heritage, ESPN UK recently featured “Aben Wo Ha,” a classic hit by Ghanaian highlife legend Daddy Lumba, in a playful highlight referencing Manchester United’s Amad Diallo.
The Ghanaian superstar, who passed away on July 26, 2025, remains a towering figure in African culture, and ESPN UK’s shout-out was a fascinating cultural crossover.
The context? During a pre-season friendly in the US against Everton, Amad Diallo misfired a clearance that deflected off his own teammate Ayden Heaven, resulting in a bizarre own goal that led to Everton’s equaliser.
In the aftermath, Diallo cheekily took to Instagram, posting a picture of Heaven as a prank, presumably teasing him for the mishap.
The match itself ended in a dramatic 2–2 draw. United had initially surged ahead through a Bruno Fernandes penalty, followed by a slick strike from Mason Mount.
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But defensive frailties were exposed. Manchester United twice squandered the lead, conceding first through Iliman Ndiaye before the own goal sealed Everton’s point.
ESPN UK’s lighthearted use of “Aben Wo Ha”, a well-known Lumba song from 1998, in connection with this scene felt emblematic: it signalled a moment of humour amidst sporting chaos, and served as a subtle tribute to a music icon who remains beloved in Ghana and beyond.
Watch the video below:
ESPN making daddy lumba proud pic.twitter.com/hUPIZBWs0u
— F.rankies♋️ (@frank_achie) August 19, 2025
FKA/MA
Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians predict top scorer between Kudus and Semenyo on GhanaWeb TV below:
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