Brazil World Cup. Ghana under fire for match fixing but why are African teams Targeted?

Ghana football association president Kwesi Nyantakyi has threatened to drag The Telegraph newspaper  in Britain to court after it published a story alleging he was part of a conspiracy prepared to fix international friendlier in which the Ghana team was involved. Ghana is one of Africa’s most promising teams at this year’s world Cup and The Telegraph alleged the FA president and some officials were ready to accept $170.000 to fix the matches.  It is still not clear why The Telegraph decided to break the story only now following Ghana’s thrilling match against Germany, one of the teams tipped to win the trophy. Germany only managed a draw against Ghana after the West African team led the match which ended in a 2-2 draw. The match fixing allegations are not related to the Brazil world cup

Ghana players celebrate goal against Germany

The Telegraph newspaper and Channel 4 TV investigative programme both based in England apparently decided to launch investigations six months ago when they were tipped some teams that will play the world cup could accept bribes to fix matches.

“The content of the publication is not fully true”, Nyantakyi (Ghana FA boss) told the BBC Newsday Programme early today Monday June 23 2014. “I was showed a contract but I did not sign because I did not agree to the arrangements”. The Ghanaian football federation has now reported the matter to the British police claiming it was a “… well orchestrated plan to tarnish our image. We will not allow the good name of our team …to be dragged into mud”

Apparently, undercover reporters for The Telegraph filmed meetings with Ghana FA officials while posing as investors who could pay if the Ghanaian federation accepted to fix friendlies in which the team was involved for betting purposes

Football agent Christopher Forsythe and Obed Nketiah who works for the Ghana under 20 eam agreed to take money from the undercover journalist and aid to “grease the palms” of Ghana officials to get the deal signed. Part of the deal would have included selected the officials for the friendlies which is against FIFA rules.

Ghana FA president accepted meeting the undercover reporters twice but said he never agreed to sign the contract. It is therefore unclear why The Telegraph is revealing the story when in essence, nothing happened.

Mrs Ayo Omidiran. Deputy Chairperson for the  Nigerian House Committee on Sports described earlier allegations in UK tabloids  that Nigeria was also involved in another match fixing scandal in the run up to the World cup as propaganda to detract the team in Brazil

“It’s just propaganda and I think our opponent just want to lower the morale of our players and paint us in bad light. You know, it’s all part of the under-hand games that some people play to make sure that they weaken their opponents,” she tol Nigerian Premium Times.

Nigerian football agent Henry Chukwuma Okoroji was forced to deny involvement in another match fixing scandal shortly before Nigeria was scheduled to play Scland in a world cup warm up match in the UK. Details of the fixing according to The Mailonline  indicated Okoroji agreed he could arrange a player gets a yellow card for £40.660 and a penalty for £81.370 and that he had already recruited two Nigerian players to accomplish the fixing.The football agent apparentlymet undercover reporters in a hotelin Milan Italy and agreed the prices. The Friendly between Scotland and Nigeria that took place on ay 29^th 2014 at Craven Cottage Fulham in London  ended on a 2-2 draw.

On June 20^th 2014, three people including two businessmen and a footballer received jail terms for their involvement in the biggest match fixing scandal in the Uk for over 50 years

Businessmen Chann Sankaran, 33 and  from Singapore and  Sri Lankan born BritishKrishna Ganeshan, 44man both received five years at the Birmingham Crown Court for conspiracy to bribery. Michael Boeteng, a former non league footballer in the Uk received a sixteen month prison term for conspiracy to offer, promise or give a financial advantage to other people.

The Ghanaian and Nigerian match fixing scandals are standard modus operandi by some British journalists in setting up possible susceptible victims commit a crime while they are secretly filmed. It is interesting both targets were African teams taking part in the world Cup in Brazil.

Meanwhile, Algeria yesterday June 22 2014 became the first African team to win with a large goal margin when  they trashed South Korea 4-2 in their Group H Match.

Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Algeria mathematically are still in the competition and all four could still qualify for the next round if they win their last remaining matches. Cameroon plays its last gala match against Brazil today after it was became the first African team to be eliminated following defeats against Croatia and Mexico