Niger defender Kofi Dankwa denies Ghana AFCON bribery allegation

Published on: 01 February 2013

Niger defender Kofi Dankwa has strongly rejected an allegation that he was bribed by Ghana to throw Monday's Africa Cup of Nations clash.

The Tunisia-based defender, who was born in Ghana, was accused by a Ghanaian media outlet of conniving with Ghana FA officials play the Group B match soft for US$20,000.

The report by the Ghana News Agency, has generated a huge international furore with the Ghana FA issuing a statement to slam the authors of the report.

The report by the GNA also claimed that Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan spent the eve of the match with Dankwa to convince him and central defensive partner Mohamed Chicoto to throw the match.

Dankwa told a Ghanaian radio station that it is surprising that a journalist could fabricate such a story as no Ghana FA official or player has asked them to influence the result of the match.

"It’s surprising but in the name of God, no Ghana official gave me or my partner Chicoto any money so that we play it easy against them," Dankwa told Asempa FM.

“I am a professional player and will never do that under any circumstance,” he said.

"It's also not true I went out with Asamoah Gyan, the fact is I spoke on phone with my brother Harrison Afful."

Another allegation levelled against the player who played youth football with Gyan in Ghana is that Chicoto spoke on phone with the Ghana captain about the alleged deal.

Dankwa insists there wasn't any form of communication between Gyan and the Nigerien defender.

“Chicoto don’t speak any language apart from French, which Asamoah don’t speak, it’s never true they spoke. Asamoah doesn't even know Chicoto as they are saying it,” he stated.

The Ghana FA has issued a press statement rubbishing the alleged bribery allegation.

Niger have not made any public comment over the issue.

Ghana beat Niger 3-0 to finish top of Group D.

Dankwa, who was accused of throwing the game scored the goal that was disallowed by the referee.

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