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World football governing body FIFA has accused Nigeria of match fixing but the country’s football governing body, NFF, says it is yet to be communicated.
Though the match in question took place over two years ago, the allegation is coming on the eve of the 29th Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, in which Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been rated among the favourites. It is not yet clear how the allegation will affect the psyche of the Nigerian squad which only two days ago won praises by holding a star-packed Catalonian side to a one-all draw in a top-of-the-bill friendly match in Spain.
The allegation is in connection with the 2010 World Cup warm-up match between Nigeria and North Korea in June 2010 ahead of the 2010 World Cup hosted by South Africa. FIFA says it believes that the match played on June 6 at the Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa, outside Johannesburg, might have been fixed. Nigeria won the match 3-1, one of the goals coming via a 62nd minute penalty converted by vibrant forward Obinna Nsofor.
“In a report on behalf of FIFA security team, Terry Steans alleged that the match officials led by Niger referee Ibrahim Chaibou were chosen by convicted Singaporean match-fixer Wilson Perumal and his Football 4U organization,” reports MTN Football.
“Perumal is believed by both FIFA and Interpol of fixing matches in several countries, standing to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal profits,” the report says.
“The match-fixing report, which was handed to South Africa Football Association (SAFA), said the Niger referee gave a harsh penalty against North Korea even when it seemed that the Korean defender did not commit an offence,” according to MTN Football.
The controversial Chaibou was also at the centre in another Eagles friendly which has also been listed by FIFA as “suspicious”.
Nigeria beat Argentina 4-1 in June 2011 in Abuja with several questionable calls by the Niger referee.
Asked to comment, NFF spokesman, Ademola Olajire, told MTN Football: “We have not been communicated byFIFAon such, so until we get that, we cannot comment about any allegations.”
•Photo: The Super Eagles need prayers so as not to be distracted by the damaging allegation.
