Flashback: When FIFA Queried Nigeria After Gov Odili Splashed Dollars on Ghana Black Stars
- FIFA queried the NFA over Liberia’s allegation that Nigeria bribed Ghana to secure qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup
- Super Eagles were already three goals up by half-time, courtesy of a goal from Victor Agali and a Tijani Babangida brace
- The then-Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili, hosted Ghana’s team for a lavish dinner and gave them $25,000 after the game
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The then-Nigeria Football Association (NFA) received a query over the allegation by Liberia that Nigeria bribed Ghana to qualify for the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Liberia were a strong contender for the CAF Group B ticket, and they were on the verge of history following their 1-0 win away in Sierra Leone in the final group game.
The George Weah-led team only needed Nigeria to drop points against Ghana at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt, but the Super Eagles rallied to a resounding 3-0 victory.
Source: Getty Images
Nigeria vs. Ghana match details
That Nigeria vs Ghana was marred by controversies, with Victor Agali opening the scoring in the very first minute of the encounter.
Winger Tijani Babangida made it two in the 18th minute and completed his brace in the 32nd, giving Nigeria a 3-0 lead, with just over half an hour of football.
It went from bad to worse as the Black Stars were reduced to ten men after Boateng Osei was shown a straight red card in the 42nd minute of the crucial game.
With the World Cup ticket already in sight, the Super Eagles were tactical in the second half as they did everything to protect their three-goal lead.
After the game, the Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili, hosted the Black Stars to a lavish dinner and later gave the visitors $25,000.
The GFA president at the time, Ben Koufie, confirmed that he received the money from the Nigerian officials, even though he was apprehensive at first. He said via Modern Ghana:
"Initially, I was apprehensive and did not want to accept it. But when my counterpart told me it had nothing to do with the match, I took it."
Anger in Ghana and Liberia
That idea sparked anger in Ghana and Liberia, with fans alleging sabotage, suggesting that the game was sold.
Former Black Stars captain Charles Akonnor described the episode as 'embarrassing', and Sports Minister Joe Aggrey later admitted Ghana should not have accepted the money.
The Liberian FA immediately wrote to the world's football governing body, FIFA, which eventually demanded answers from the NFA.
The then-interim secretary general, Patrick Okpomo, later disclosed that he had replied to the query, explaining that Nigeria did not bribe Ghana to win the match.
In a press conference in Port Harcourt, NFA scribe Amos Adamu clarified that the donation to the Black Stars was a personal contribution from Governor Peter Odili.
Source: Getty Images
Adamu explained that the donation aimed to motivate the Ghanaian team to succeed at the Nations Cup in Mali, pointing out that such gestures by state governors to visiting teams were not uncommon.
Liberia’s captain at the time, George Weah, who later became the country’s president, was furious and believed that scenario cost him his only chance to play in a World Cup, per Liberian investigator.
Why Nigeria pulled out of AFCON '96
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Super Eagles of Nigeria had to withdraw from the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations due to safety concerns raised by the military government of General Sani Abacha.
Tijani Babangida disclosed that the head of state summoned a meeting with the Super Eagles shortly before the start of the tournament.
Source: Legit.ng
