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Match fixing is a problem in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, which is hardly substantial but the former chairman of Wikki Tourists Football Club of Bauchi, Auwal Baba Jada, a newly appointed member of the Interim Management Committee is confessing to match-fixing in the NPFL a viral video on social media.
The video that is trending on social media has this new committee member boasting about his prowess as far as match-fixing in the Nigeria top-flight league is concerned.
Awwal was the chairman of Wikki Tourist FC, a club in the NPFL until 2020, when he was replaced by Alhaji Balarabe Yusuf in March 2020.
He said that the only club he cannot manipulate is MFM Football Club, one of the four club sides that was relegated to the NNL last season.
In the viral video, Awalu speaks in Hausa and his words are translated as this:
" Katsina (Utd) were defeated here in (Bauchi), I had to insist to see the Governor (of Bauchi) to ensure that Katsina (Utd) defeated is here even with their eight million (Naira). "
He boasted " I made them lose. We were the ones that influenced (fix) Kano Pillars to defeat Shooting Stars in Kano because we want Lobi (Stars) to survive (relegation)."
He went further to bring God into his match-fixing prowess, " Between me and Lobi (Stars) only God can come between us and can do anything for them." Awwalu said.
However, he exonerated MFM FC from his shady dealings but the Church Club got relegated nevertheless.
Hear him: "Any town that has premier league (club) … aside MFM (lagos), that’s the only town that I don’t have any friend that I can send people to him to coordinate/help in Nigeria, there is none."
" In any town at all that has premier league some even if they don’t have like for example Kwara You know they have ABS and their boss was even here (Bauchi). So we have good relationships with people. All you need do is to go and play your game anywhere in Nigeria" he concludes.
This is an eye opener to the game world governing body, FIFA to set machinery in motion and investigate Awallu's claim by calling him to substantiate his claim and get appropriate sanctions.
While the Sports Ministry needs no further evidence than to reject him as a member of the IMC that is expected to set a new standard for the new Nigeria Football League based on his self-confession alone.
This is a moral burden test on the NFF hopefully they can retrace their step and recall their nominee in peace and let the IMC starts on a solid foundation of public trust by reporting him to FIFA officially and allowing the law to take its due course.
This is the link to the video
