Kampala, November 27: The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has opened a probe into allegations of match fixing against the country’s national soccer team Uganda Cranes.
The probe follows persistent allegations by a section of the country’s soccer fraternity that the recent 2015Africa Cup of Nations group qualifier against Guinea which Uganda lost 0-2 and booted out was purposely thrown away by some team members.
FUFA President, Moses Magogo confirmed the development Wednesday in an interview with the country’s online sports tabloid Kawowo.com that his organisation has therefore resolved to probe the matter.
He said his organisation has since engaged the country’s police to carry out preliminary investigations into the matter.
“Some people believe that the results from the Guinea versus Uganda match might have been influenced. We shall not leave anything to chance, as the federation [we have] engaged the police to make preliminary inquiries,” he explained.
The probe follows persistent allegations by a section of the country’s soccer fraternity that the recent 2015Africa Cup of Nations group qualifier against Guinea which Uganda lost 0-2 and booted out was purposely thrown away by some team members.
FUFA President, Moses Magogo confirmed the development Wednesday in an interview with the country’s online sports tabloid Kawowo.com that his organisation has therefore resolved to probe the matter.
He said his organisation has since engaged the country’s police to carry out preliminary investigations into the matter.
“Some people believe that the results from the Guinea versus Uganda match might have been influenced. We shall not leave anything to chance, as the federation [we have] engaged the police to make preliminary inquiries,” he explained.
However Magogo did not either discuss the nature, dimension of the investigations will take or disclose if there have been any identified suspects involved in the affair.
But appealed to people with useful information that would assist into the probe to come into open saying the law enforcers will be free to do their job professionally.
“We shall let the police do their job at the same time call upon people with useful information tips to help in the investigations,” he added.
Cranes skipper Andrew Mwesigwa has been blamed for his two blunders that cost the Cranes a possible group E second qualification ticket to Equatorial Guinea.
The Kazakhstan based professional made two fouls that resulted into a free kick and a penalty that eventually turned into goals enabling Guinea to chalk a comfortable 2-0 victory.
The Cranes finished the game with 10 men after Mwesigwa was sent off for an early shower after a second bookable offence.
Uganda team last qualified to AFCON finals in 1978 and needed a draw or a win, so the soccer fraternity in the country was inching to end this 37 yearlong absence from the continent’s prestigious soccer showpiece.
Meanwhile, the Uganda FA boss has condemned the acts of violence that were directed at the beleaguered Cranes skipper’s house.
“It is not necessary to attack the players when we all very well know; football is a game of mistakes. I therefore strongly condemn the acts of violence against players,” he said.
But appealed to people with useful information that would assist into the probe to come into open saying the law enforcers will be free to do their job professionally.
“We shall let the police do their job at the same time call upon people with useful information tips to help in the investigations,” he added.
Cranes skipper Andrew Mwesigwa has been blamed for his two blunders that cost the Cranes a possible group E second qualification ticket to Equatorial Guinea.
The Kazakhstan based professional made two fouls that resulted into a free kick and a penalty that eventually turned into goals enabling Guinea to chalk a comfortable 2-0 victory.
The Cranes finished the game with 10 men after Mwesigwa was sent off for an early shower after a second bookable offence.
Uganda team last qualified to AFCON finals in 1978 and needed a draw or a win, so the soccer fraternity in the country was inching to end this 37 yearlong absence from the continent’s prestigious soccer showpiece.
Meanwhile, the Uganda FA boss has condemned the acts of violence that were directed at the beleaguered Cranes skipper’s house.
“It is not necessary to attack the players when we all very well know; football is a game of mistakes. I therefore strongly condemn the acts of violence against players,” he said.
By: Joel Chirwa
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