Ghana’s female national team coach Anthony Edusei is embroiled in a HUGE scandal after a player accused him of taking bribes from her in exchange for place in the squad.
In a secretly recorded tape, Italy-based goalkeeper Alima Moro also said several players in the squad paid bribes to the coach before they were handed call-ups.
The allegation comes just two weeks after the Black Queens were shockingly eliminated from the Olympic Games qualifiers by lowly Ethiopia.
Some players also claim they paid bribes totaling US$21,000 to the Black Queens technical staff ahead of camping for the Ethiopia qualifier.
Listen to Alima Moro accusing coach Edusei of taking bribes
As part of the bribes, items like mobile phones, perfumes and shirts other items were presented to the coach and his technical staff.
Coach Edusei denied the claim when GHANAsoccernet.com confronted him with the tape.
Despite the denial by Edusei that his sub-standard squad was picked because of inducements, the goalkeeper claims the coach took bribes.
"I received a call from the coach while I was in Italy and he told me he will pick me provided I can pay for my plane ticket to Ghana,†goalkeeper Alima, who plays for Caffé dae Tose said.
"Upon arrival, I paid One thousand Euros to one Nii who delivered it on behalf of the coach upon request.
“Several players had told me they paid similar amounts to the coach after they were invited to camp.
"I was also advised to buy several items to the goalkeeping bench and the coach which I did and presented myself.â€
Alima was the substitute to Memunatu Abiba Selumana who was red carded in the first leg of the clash with Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
She was expected to be the first choice in the second leg in Sulemana’s absence but coach Edusei opted to bring players from the U19 side which prompts her suspicion that she did not pay enough bribes.
"I don't know why the coach decided to call two new U-20 Goalkeepers to camp after Abiba was red carded while I had been in camp all this while.
"I understand the money was small but that was what I had at the time," she added.
The goalkeeper feared that if her revelation becomes public it could end her chances of playing for Ghana as she will be victimized.
"The coach himself told me I was a very good keeper when I kept the post in a friendly game but I know if this thing comes out, it will be the end of my football career," Alima added.
GHANAsoccernet.com has presented Alima's allegations to the Ghana Football Association and Ministry of Sport.
Ishmael Yartey accused Sellas Tetteh of taking bribes from Ghana U20 players in 2009 and has not been called to any national team despite making waves in Portugal.
Tetteh, who won the U20 World Cup in 2009, was investigated by the Ghana FA on another separate allegation of endemic bribe-taking from players and agents. The outcome of the investigation was not made public.
There is deep seated suspicion that local coaches in Ghana take bribes from agents, parents and club owners for their wards to gain places in the various national teams.
Many think that bribe taking coaches are to blame for the recent failures of the national teams after Ghana’s U17, U20, U20 and local Black Stars failed woefully in recent competitions.
The Black Queens failed to advance from the Group stage of the 2010 African Women Championship in South Africa and were knocked out of the London 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers to Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, GHANAsoccernet.com is also investigating the composition of the Ghana U17 squad under coach Frimpong Manso.
Editor's Note: GHANAsoccernet.com did not conduct the interview with Alima. We stumbled on this private conversation and because of the strong public interest in the wake of the rot in our national teams, we decided to expose it, to save Ghana football.