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Soccer News of Tuesday, 24 July 2001

Source: The Guardian (Lagos)

Match-Fixing Allegations Fill the Air

Allegations of match-fixing are flying in Freetown following Sierra Leone's defeat at home by Liberia. Liberia's Lone Stars' Website, culling a story from The Progress (Freetown) reports that local fans were calling for a FIFA probe of the last match between Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Soccer fans suspected that the game was fixed in favour of the visiting Liberians. The Progress reported that FA sources suspected that the Sierra Leone team failed to perform to their expected standards.

The FA suspected that George Weah was very instrumental in training some of the professionals of Sierra Leone.

"What do you expect from Mohammed Kallon, Pa Saffa and others who Weah helped to booster in their football career?" a FA chief reportedly querried.

It was alleged that on the night that Liberia beat Sierra Leone at home, officials working at Cape Sierra Hotel where both teams stayed reported that Weah threw a huge celebration dinner for both teams and later handed $5,000 to each Sierra Leone player.

Meanwhile, Liberian President Charles Taylor who also organised a similar party for his national team profusely thanked George Weah for his efforts.

The Lone Stars' Website reported President Taylor as saying: "I am optimistic that we are going to the World Cup.

"Liberians will hold you (Weah) in high esteem because this is the first time we have come so close that we are banging on that door."

The Liberians are hoping that World Cup underachievers, Black Stars will uphold a tradition that had seen them undefeated in Nigeria in the past 28 years.

The Black Stars, who according to their Website, began camping on Sunday at the Winneba Sports College, are determined to be the spoiler for Nigeria.

The Black Stars are out of contention, but are fine-tuning strategies against Nigeria's team which is mistakenly referred to as "Green Eagles."

Black Stars' coach Fred Osam Doudu, has kept the home side that beat Sudan 1-0 in Accra for the sake of cohesion. He, however, invited four foreign professionals.

He dismissed allegations that Ghana may not give in their best in Sunday's match.

"It is true we are out of contention for the World Cup, but that does not in anyway mean we are going to Nigeria for a tea party.

We have a reputation to defend and personally, I want to maintain my good record since I took over the team.

"There is nothing like 'selling out' as we are going to Nigeria to win. We have our pride as a nation and that was what we proved to Liberia in Monrovia."