SCANDAL: Algeria star reveals match fixing with Nigeria to ditch Ghana at 1984 AFCON

Published on: 25 September 2012

Ex-Algeria midfielder Mohammed Shoaib has revealed that his country connived with Nigeria in a match fixing scandal to eliminate Ghana at the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations.

In what could be a massive disgrace for African football, the midfielder who played in the tournament in the Ivory Coast, says they struck a deal to eliminate the Black Stars.

Nigeria needed a draw to advance to the semi-final of the tournament but Ghana had to win against Malawi and then pray for the Super Eagles to falter against Algeria to be able to advance.

Ghana won the match against Malawi but could not advance because Algeria and Nigeria drew.

In a shocking revelation, Shoaib says Nigeria and Algeria hatched up the plan to settle for a draw to ensure Ghana elimination from the tournament.

The midfielder shamefully admits that they learnt how to fix matches following their ordeal at the 1982 where it was suspected a similar plot between Germany and Austria in the World Cup led to Algeria’s elimination from the tournament.

” We made a deal with Nigeria to end the game with a draw and they moved with us to the semifinal, while Ghana crashed out of the tournament although they won against Malawi" Shaouib told the Algeria media on Tuesday.

” Algerians were still depressed after the plot between Germany and Austria in the World Cup 1982 which ousted us so we did the same to Ghana two years later” he added angrily .

Despite Nigeria progression to the semi final they eventually lost the final match to Cameroon who clinched the title.

The Confederation of African Football could be sparked into an overdrive of investigating this revelation as it has got the potential to damage the credibility of the African game.

What do you think about this shocking news? What do you think the Ghana FA must do about this?

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Source: MTNFootball.com

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