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World football governing body FIFA has accused Nigeria of match fixing.
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 shadow cast may be that the Catalonia draw is a function of match fixing again given the timing of this new revelation.
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.
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.
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.
This is not the first time Nigeria is in the centre of match fixing allegations. FIFA investigated the 2010 World Cup match between Nigeria and Greece over suspected match-fixing.
The organisation's former head of security, Chris Eaton said the match was looked at by FIFA's anti-corruption unit, and also said a national federation - and possibly more than one – was investigated, along with clubs.
He also alleged that FIFA had been contacted by a footballer playing in the English Championship who had voiced his concerns over corruption and match-fixing.
Greece beat Nigeria 2-1 in South Africa after recovering from a goal down in the World Cup match, in which Nigeria had Sani Kaita sent off after a first-half clash with Vasilis Torosidis. The Nigerians were 1-0 ahead at the time.
If Eaton's claims are correct, the match would be the first in a World Cup finals to have come under suspicion of being affected by corruption. Friendlies and qualifying matches have been investigated in the past, but never a game in the World Cup's final stages.
Additional reports from www.newsexpressngr.com
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