- Muhammad Faj Bari
- BB Sport
1 hour ago
Sierra Leonean fans watched the men’s national team at the Africa Cup of Nations, earlier this year
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) is investigating the outcome of two matches that resulted in an incredible total of 187 goals.
The two matches of the second division witnessed the “Kahunla Rangers” team beat “Lumbibo United” team 95-0, and “Golf FC” team beat “Cocoima Lebanon” 91-1 to achieve the two biggest victories in the history of Sierra Leonean football.
The two matches that took place on Sunday are among the qualifiers for the Premier League there.
However, the first-half results were 2-0 and 7-1 respectively, and both results were invalidated due to suspected match-fixing.
“We cannot stand idly by and watch an embarrassing situation like this go unpunished,” Thomas Daddy Prima, president of the Sierra Leone Football Association, told BBC Sport Africa.
“We will launch an immediate investigation and hold all those responsible for this modest performance accountable.”
“All those found guilty will be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the Football Association, and will also be submitted to the country’s anti-corruption commission.”
The chief executive of Kahunla Rangers “strongly condemned the unsportsmanlike behaviour”, and the general manager of Lumbibo said he was “not aware of any match-fixing”.
Meanwhile, the president of Cocoima Lebanon club claimed that the match in which his team participated was in fact a friendly, and officials from Golf FC refused to comment.
The Football Association said it would investigate the players and officials of all four clubs involved, the officials of the two matches and the Football Association in the Eastern Province.
He added that he had “zero tolerance” of match-fixing in the West African country, in compliance with the rules of the International Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
A torrent of goals in the second half
Both Kahunla and Golf FC earned the same number of points in the final round of matches and were vying for the Eastern District’s remaining spot in the Super 10 National League, which serves as the final qualifying stage for the Sierra Leone Premier League.
The two games took place simultaneously, and a golf match referee refused to run the second half and was later replaced.
Things took a dramatic turn over the course of the second half, when it became clear that the team with the best goal difference would advance – Kahunla’s 93 goals and Golf 84.
Kahunla’s CEO Eric Keitel has condemned his team and the three other parties involved in the two matches on social media.
“I want to start by apologizing to football fans in the country and the world at large, for the strange result of the Kahunala Rangers match,” Keitel said.
“I want to strongly stress that I strongly condemn such unsportsmanlike behavior, which is shown by my team and the other teams involved.”
“I am forming a committee to investigate the entire team, including the technical staff and executive members, and everything necessary will be taken.”
“I will never be a part of match-fixing”
The general manager of the Lumbibo team, Mohamed Yan Said Jaloh, assumed the responsibility as coach of his team in the match in the absence of their main coach.
photo released, Getty Images
A torrent of goals occurred in the second half of the two matches
Three players were also expelled from his team in the match that ended in a 95-0 defeat, and he pleaded his innocence.
“I am not aware of any match-fixing, but I cannot vouch for the others,” Galloh told BBC Sport Africa.
“We conceded a lot of goals in the second half. I was frustrated and at one point left the touchline in anger. I wasn’t focused after that, so I can’t even tell how many goals we conceded in total.”
“I call on the football authorities to investigate the two matches, and to hold anyone found guilty of negligence to account. If no one is found guilty of any crime, so be it.”
The president of “Cocoima Lebanon” club claimed that the result against Golf FC was from a friendly match, and he also disputed the result 91-1.
“Muhammad Lanfia Tunkara” said that his players and club officials told him that the league match between the two clubs did not actually take place.
Instead, there was a meeting between “players in the community, including some of the Cocoima team” which was set up “to entertain fans who had bought tickets to watch their game with Golf FC”.