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nairaland.net • View topic - Uganda Media Accuse Nigeria of Match Fixing

Uganda Media Accuse Nigeria of Match Fixing

Uganda Media Accuse Nigeria of Match Fixing

Postby fw12 » Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:34 pm

Uganda Media Accuse Nigeria of Match Fixing

Olawale Ajimotokan
Lagos

The Ghana 2008 qualifying race between the Super Eagles and Cranes of Uganda has assumed a new twist following allegation of unsportsmanly conduct levelled against Nigeria by the East African country.

The Ugandan sour grape is the fall out of the Group 3 fixture with Niger played over the weekend. The match played at the Stade Seyni Kountche Stadium in Niamey ended 0-0.


The ill tempered game saw four Ugandan players being shown yellow cards by the Senegalese referee Abdaul Diouf. CAF has also slammed a $5, 000 fine on the Federation of Ugandan Football Association (FUFA) for the bad conduct of the Cranes' players.

Reports in the Ugandan media yesterday ascribed to the FUFA officials accused Nigerian officials of influencing the outcome of the match by bankrolling the Nigerien campaign.

Quoting an unnamed insider, the New Vision newspaper wrote that a 'friendly' country funded Niger's entire preparations. Niger was given a single assignment: 'Whatever it takes or costs, beat Uganda.'

It is logical that Nigeria, which shares common geographical and political ties with Niger is the country indirectly regarded as the 'friendly' nation that funded the Mena of Niger's last fixture against the Cranes.

FUFA accused Nigeria of sparking a grand West African conspiracy to foil their ambition to secure qualification for the Nations Cup, which incidentally they last graced in 1978 in Ghana.

Geoffrey Massa and team captain Timothy Batabaire were among the players booked against the Mena. Massa will now not be eligible for the match against Nigeria next March having incurred two bookings.

"We must work hard against Nigeria in Abuja to stop this West African refereeing conspiracy," he observed.

However, the report did not say if any formal protest had been lodged with CAF over the conduct of the referee or the suspicions by Ugandan officials that Nigeria influenced the match.

Apart from the allegation of suspicious dealings, the stakes between Nigeria and Uganda will be high when the Ugandans visit Abuja on March 24 next year in continuation of the series considering that it was the Cranes that defeated Nigeria in the semi-final stage of Ghana 1978 with the ammunition supplied by Philip Omondi, the tournament leading scorer.

They were, however, beaten 2-0 in the final by Ghana led by golden boy Abbdul Razak.

The Super Eagles presently lead Group 3 with the maximum six points from two matches from their victories over Niger and Lesotho.

This Day.
fw12
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