Posted by Nnamdi Okosieme, Lagos on
Early in July as Nigerians focused attention on the 2005 Federation of International Football Associations organized World Youth Championship taking place in Holland, a news report in a little known magazine in Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates in the Middle East would turn out to be of significance immense interest.
Early in July as Nigerians focused attention on the 2005 Federation of International Football Associations organized World Youth Championship taking place in Holland, a news report in a little known magazine in Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates in the Middle East would turn out to be of significance immense interest.
Super Magazine, a news medium had reported in its late June edition that an unnamed Angola diplomat based in Cairo, Egypt had offered Egyptian referee Esam Abdel Fatah a bribe of $50,000 to swing the Angola versus Super Eagles of Nigeria match played on June 18, in Angola's favour. That match ended 1-1 and ensured that Angola shot to the top of the group. Nigeria's failure to win that match clearly put its World Cup aspirations on the cliff. It meant that Nigeria needed to win its next match of September 4 against Algeria in Oran. Among Nigerians the hope was also that Angola would slip up against Gabon at home in Luanda.
It was a forlorn hope. The Palancas Negras as the Angolan national team are known blazed past the Gabonese, posting three goals past the visitors. The win ensured that they maintained leadership of the group despite Nigeria's 5-2 mauling of the Algerians on the North African's turf.
As it is Nigeria's qualification is no longer contingent on its beating Zimbabwe. For the Eagles to make it to their fourth consecutive World Cup, the Angolans must either lose in Rwanda or play a draw while the Eagles beat the Zimbabwean warriors in Abuja. The odds clearly favour the Angolans. Yet they are not taking any chances. They have embarked on a massive offensive aimed at put Nigeria on the spot. Last Tuesday, Luis Oliveira Goncalves, coach of the Angolan team accusing Nigeria of attempting to bribe its way to the World Cup. Goncalves said Nigeria had paid the fare of 12 Gabonese professional players to Luanda and had promised them huge financial rewards should they beat Angola. The Angolan coach added that Nigeria was also working towards influence the outcome of Angola's last match against Rwanda in Kigali.
Expectedly Nigeria's football authorities have made light of the allegation. When contacted by Sunday Independent, Nigeria Football Association (NFA) acting Secretary General, Fanny Amun declined to comment on the matter. Robinson Okosun, the association Public Relations officer, who agreed to comment on the matter, said the NFA was 'unaware" of any such allegation made by the Angolans.
Meanwhile, Nigerians for their part are accusing the Angolans too of dirty dealing. No one is exactly sure of the source of the story but the news is all over town that Angola offered the Algerians a whooping $1 million to beat the Super Eagles.
NFA officials while not publicly engaging the Angolans are working feverishly to checkmate whatever sinister moves the Southern Africans may come up with. They are keeping close watch on the Angolans to ensure that they do not in any way influence the Rwandans.
For many Nigerian working behind the scenes is not enough. Raufu Ladipo, president General (Worldwide) of the Nigeria Football and other Sports Supporters Club has called on FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to monitor the last group four matches to ensure that there is no sell-out. Said Ladipo last week:
' We are calling on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA to monitor all matches even in Kigali where the Angolans will be playing away against Rwanda as well as the Nigeria/Zimbabwe match to avoid any possible sell out ".
The supporters club boss believes that if the Angolans were desperate enough to offer the Algerians as much as one million naira for a match that does not involve, the would certainly offer more to the Rwandans to throw the match in Kigali.
As the two group four leaders engage in mind games, the Rwandans who appear to hold all the aces have warned that they would not handle the match with kid's gloves. According to the Amavubi coach, Roger Palmgren:
' We are looking forward to the match against Angola because in my philosophy we play to win every match, that is the only way we can develop. And we are going to play to beat Angola."
This may not be idle talk. The Rwandans have not been beaten at home since the qualifiers began and in fact nearly ran away with victory against the Super Eagles in Kigali until Inter Milan forward Obafemi Martins drew level for Nigeria in the second half.