Super Eagles: Amas Obasogie joins Siasia, Okoye in match-fixing web

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Super Eagles: Amas Obasogie joins Siasia, Okoye in match-fixing web

Match-fixing in sports, particularly in football, has become more common among professional football players, coaches and match officials across different leagues in the world.

Waploaded reports that match-fixing has to do with the illegal act of deliberately manipulating the outcome of a sporting event to achieve a predetermined result.

This might involve collusion among players, coaches, or officials, as the main goal is often to profit from illegal gambling activities, as the fixed outcome ensures that bets placed on that result are guaranteed to win for the conspirators.

Match-fixing remains one of the most sensitive issues in global football, and it is considered a serious crime in most jurisdictions and can lead to legal penalties for those involved, including bans from the sport.

The Federation of International Football Associations, FIFA, and the Confederation of African Football, CAF, have repeatedly warned players, coaches and officials about the risks associated with manipulating match outcomes.

But most recently, Super Eagles goalkeeper, Amas Obasogie, was involved in a match-fixing scandal.

Obasogie was suspended for three months by Tanzanian Premier League club, Singida Black Stars SC for his alleged involvement in match-fixing.

Singida Black Stars said last Friday that it had suspended the Nigerian international to allow for a proper investigation into the match-fixing allegations.

The 26-year-old, who was a member of Super Eagles’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal-winning squad, joined the Singida Black Stars SC last year after severing ties with Ethiopian club, Fasil Kenema.

On Saturday, Obasogie denied any involvement in match-fixing as he vowed to clear his name of any wrongdoing

The former Bendel Insurance shot-stopper was alleged to have manipulated the outcome of a CAF Confederation Cup match, as well as a domestic game.

Obasogie claimed that the goals he conceded in both games were a result footballing errors, and not deliberate misconduct.

The goalkeeper is expected to appear before a disciplinary committee in the coming days to clear his name.

Obasogie’s case comes just after the dust recently settled over another Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, who was linked to a betting-related investigation.

Similarly, former Super Eagles head coach, Samson Siasia, served out a five-year ban imposed on him by FIFA over allegations of match-fixing.

DAILY POST reports that FIFA hit Siasia with a life ban from all football-related activities in 2019 for breach of ethics.

Upon appeal, Siasia’s punishment was later reduced to a five-year ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS.

The 58-year-old completed the ban in August of 2024, but he has yet to return to football and continue his coaching career after the lengthy absence from football.

Siasia was linked with a return to the Super Eagles before the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, appointed Eric Chelle as head coach of the national team.

Speaking with Waploaded on Monday, Isa Saleh, co-founder of Borno Junior League, expressed sadness over Obasogie’s current situation.

He, however, hoped the Nigerian goalkeeper would come out clean when the match-fixing investigation is concluded.

“For me, it’s simple: any player, coach, or official found guilty of match-fixing must be made to answer for the tune they started,” Saleh told Waploaded.

“No active player should be involved in match-fixing, and it is sad to learn about Obasogie’s current situation. He is a young goalkeeper who has a bright future with the Super Eagles.

“He was even part of the squad [Eric] Chelle took to the AFCON in Morocco, but unfortunately he didn’t play a match for Nigeria. But the signs are there that he could end up becoming a second or first choice in the future.

“But to be facing this issue of a match-fixing scandal is painful. He has already said he was not guilty and denied all allegations. Investigation is ongoing, and I just hope that at the end of everything, he will come out clean and return to his club side to continue his career.

“I wish him all the best, and other players, especially Super Eagles players, should learn from Obasogie’s current situation,” he said.