Togo: fresh match-fixing case
Rocked at the end of last season by match-fixing cases in the D1 Lonato that led to the suspension of two officials, the Togolese Football Federation must now rule on another second-division fixture, between JCA (Jeunesse Club d'Agoè-Nyivé) and Abou Ossé. The case involves a coach, club officials, players and money.
Romain MOLINA · Author profile ·
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By Romain Molina
On Friday 9 October, the Togolese Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee summoned nine people over "allegations of corruption" in the final round of the regular phase of the second division (Group A), between Jeunesse Club d’Agoe-Nyivè and Abou Ossé.
JCA, top of the table and already qualified for the playoffs, were hosting the bottom side, who had to win to have any hope of staying up. It looked a near-impossible task, yet they pulled it off with a 0-1 victory. Abou Ossé celebrated their survival, but suspicions quickly hung over the fortunate outcome of the match.
Read also: Togo: match-fixing scandal involving several officials
"Everything was arranged so that Abou Ossé would stay in the second division"
According to information gathered by Sport News Africa, talks between the officials of the two teams took place a few days before the match, with a meeting in Kpalimé to seal the agreement: Abou Ossé were to pay several million CFA francs, plus win bonuses for the JCA players.
However, the negotiations proved difficult, as JCA president Daniel Agbeko demanded almost four million CFA francs while the opposing officials offered two.
Despite the gap in what was being asked and offered, JCA kept their side of the "contract" by losing to allow their opponents to survive, even though tensions had not eased. "Abou Ossé do not deserve a place in the second division," said JCA coach Haure Tchalim. "Everything was arranged so that Abou Ossé would stay in the second division."
Money promised but never paid
While those statements deepened a distrust already sharpened by the result, the wrangling between the officials over the promised money put an end to any doubts. Desperately waiting for the full sum, JCA president Daniel Agbeko lost his temper and lodged a complaint against Abou Ossé with the Togolese federation. The problem was that, in doing so, he put himself in a perilous position…
Realising that he could also be sanctioned, he tried to withdraw his complaint, without success. Now in a perilous position, the JCA president was summoned by the Disciplinary Committee along with other members of his club (the coach, the communications officer and two players, including the goalkeeper).
Read also: Togo: two officials suspended over match-fixing
Three Abou Ossé officials (the president, vice-president and secretary general) were also summoned on Friday 9 October. The conclusions of the case are expected soon, as is the report of the independent commission set up by the National Assembly.
The latter took up the case following the end-of-season scandal last term in the D1 Lonato, which led to the federation suspending two officials, while suspicions also fell on other officials of that same federation...