AFCON
CAF fines Nigeria and Algeria for match-fixing –
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
On this day, 40 years ago Nigeria and Algeria played their last Group B match in the Africa Cup of Nations in Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire. It remains one of the most controversial matches in the tournament’s history.
Nigeria won just one match in the series and yet came back with a silver medal.
Nigeria and Algeria played spinelessly to end tie at 0-0 fuelling allegations that both teams had agreed on an accord to eliminate defending champions, Ghana.
With players just knocking the ball about in the midfield and strikers even refusing to aim at goal, opting to kick the ball back into their territory, no one was left in doubt about the intentions of the 22 players on the pitch.
The ticket holding spectators were enraged.
So dismaying was the play that the Guinean referee, Karim Camara issued a yellow card to skippers Stephen Keshi of Nigeria and Ali Feghani of Algeria. The gesture was actually a general caution to both teams for ‘unsporting’ behaviour.
After three hours of deliberation, CAF fined Algeria and Nigeria $6,000. At the time, it was initially a subject of speculations on whether both team conspired. Sports Village Square can confirm that there were strong elements indicating match fixing.
A member of the squad, now deceased during a social gathering actually confessed to be at the centre of the deal after a chance meeting with Algeria’s captain, Ali Feghani whom he had known before.
The deal: “Nigeria-Algeria play 0-0; Ghana, Malawi go home”. Weeks later, Henry Nwosu, a member of the Nigerian squad granted an interview to the evening newspaper of The Guardian, Guardian Express, confirming the conspiracy.
From Algeria later came another confirmation.
A former Algeria midfielder Mohammed Shoaib revealed there was a connivance to get the defending champions, Ghana eliminated.
Going into the last match, Ghana, defeated in the opening match by Nigeria, needed to beat Malawi in their last group match in addition to expecting Nigeria to be beaten by Algeria.
Nigeria needed a draw to advance to the semi-final along with Algeria.
The Algerians recalled their own fate in the World Cup two years earlier in what was globally called the ‘Gijon Swindle’. At the time, West Germany and Austria, neighbours conspired to eliminate Algeria in a Spain ‘82 duel at Gijon.
Owing to the the tiebreaker rules in the group stage, a West German win by one or two goals would ensure that both Austria and West Germany advanced to the next round. West Germany scored the only goal in the first 10 minutes of the match, which progressively deteriorated to a virtual standstill in the second half.
Despite widespread condemnation and a formal complaint lodged by Algeria who bore the consequences, FIFA did not take any action.
Later, an Austrian player Reinhold Hintermaier admitted the match was fixed. That is the reason why group stage now ensures that the final two games in each group would be played simultaneously.
The Guinean Football Federation have lodged a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday, alleging Tanzania fielded an ineligible player during their recent 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
Guinea, who were edged out 1-0 by Tanzania in the final Group H match on Tuesday, failed to qualify for the continental tournament after finishing third with nibe points.
Tanzania secured second place in the group with ten points, two off leaders DR Congo.
Guinea claim that Tanzania fielded a player wearing jersey number 26, who entered the pitch in the 73rd minute, despite the number not being listed in the official CAF squad submission.
Moreover, the player’s jersey reportedly lacked a visible name, making it impossible to verify his identity.
Guinea cited Article 50 of CAF regulations, which mandates strict compliance with player registration, including matching jersey numbers and proper identification.
The federation argue that such violations could undermine the competition’s integrity by allowing suspended or unqualified players to participate.
The Guinean Football Federation are demanding that CAF declare them winners of the game and to reach the 2025 Nations Cup at the expense of Tanzania.
CAF have yet to respond to the complaint.
-Ahram
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
A Libyan news outlet, Libya Akhbar has insinuated that the Super Eagles of Nigeria deliberately lost their home match to Rwanda on Monday to shut the Africa Cup of Nations gate at Libya.
The Mediterranean Knights of Libya last qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 and had a controversy-ridden confrontation with the Super Eagles in the match days 3 and 4 of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
“The question of Nigeria’s defeat to Rwanda remains hanging in people’s minds: Was there an intention to exclude Libya from the competition?
“The answer may remain ambiguous, but what is certain is that Libyan football needs radical reforms, whether in technical planning or crisis management football needs radical reforms, whether in technical planning or crisis management.”
According to the publication, the Nigerian team deliberately lowered its strength to ensure the non-qualification of Libya even if the team succeeded in beating the Benin Republic.
Libya had hoped to beat Benin Republic to amass a seven point haul. “But their dreams were dashed by a solid defensive wall from Benin, who knew how to snatch a valuable point that would have secured their ticket to Morocco.
“On the other side of the group, Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat to Rwanda in the Green (Super) Eagles’ home ground added more controversy, especially since the result raised doubts about Nigeria’s intentions in this encounter.
“The match between Nigeria and Rwanda was a shock to the Libyan fans.
“The fans expected a comfortable win for Nigeria, which would have kept Libya’s hopes alive if they defeated Benin. However, the scenario was contrary to expectations. Nigeria’s one-goal lead turned into a two-goal loss, as if the Green Eagles had abandoned their competitive spirit.
“The scene raised many questions in sports circles: Did Nigeria deliberately lose to eliminate Libya?”
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Eliminated Libya is reportedly vigorously pursuing its protest against CAF in match forfeiture to Nigeria for an Africa Cup of Nations match day 4 that did not hold.
After holding the Super Eagles and officials hostage in an abandoned airport for 20 hours, the match was cancelled even as the Super Eagles pulled out of the fixture.
The continental football ruling body later awarded the match to Nigeria with three points and three goals.
Libya are taking another route to fight their case after they missed out on qualification.
They are reportedly pursuing a case at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (TAS). A check by Sports Village Square however did not indicate that the case has been listed.
It is not among the 46 cases listed for hearing up till 19 December 2024. The only listed cases involving African litigants are that of Algeria Football Federation versus CAF which is about last season’s Confederation Cup semi-final duel of RS Berkane and USM Alger.
The case is listed as “TAS 2024/A/10528 FAF & Club USM Alger c/ CAF & FRMF & RS Berkane.”
With the final standings of Group D, Libya will still be eliminated even if the controversial match were awarded to the team and Nigeria will still qualify atop of the group.
Should the points and goals awarded to Nigeria be reversed, the team will remain on top with eight points like Benin and Rwanda, but with a three-goal advantage.
Second-placed Benin with eight points have zero goal difference while Rwanda, also with eight points have a two-goal deficit.
If the match were awarded to Libya, the Mediterranean Knights would have eight points, like others, and a minus one goal difference which will not be enough to threaten any of the two qualified teams.
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