Not often do Nigerian footballers find themselves involved in match-fixing or betting scandals.
While incidents of indiscipline or controversies in other areas have occasionally surfaced, allegations involving betting remain rare for players from this football-loving nation. However, on the few occasions when such accusations have arisen, they’ve shocked fans and sparked debates.
Here are four instances where Nigerian footballers found themselves accused. However it is important to note that accusations do not equate to guilt.
Maduka Okoye
The latest to face allegations is Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. Currently on Udinese’s books but sidelined with a wrist injury, Okoye is reportedly under investigation for his involvement in a betting scandal that has rocked Italian football.
According to reports, authorities in Udine suspect the 25-year-old of placing a bet on himself to receive a yellow card during a Serie A match against Lazio on March 11, 2024. Okoye was cautioned for time-wasting in the 64th minute of the game while preparing for a goal kick. Though such bookings are common, prosecutors allege that this was premeditated as part of a betting scheme.
The scandal deepened with the involvement of Diego Giordano, a local pizzeria owner in Udine, who allegedly facilitated the arrangement. Suspicious betting patterns surrounding the match were flagged by Sisal, one of Italy’s prominent betting companies, prompting an investigation.
Sam Sodje
Former Reading and Portsmouth defender Sam Sodje was at the center of a major betting controversy in December 2013. In an undercover investigation by the Sun on Sunday, Sodje was recorded claiming that he could arrange for players to get booked or sent off for cash payments.
Sodje revealed that he had punched Oldham Athletic’s Jose Baxter twice during a League One game while playing for Portsmouth, earning a red card and £70,000 in return. He further claimed to have planned to fix matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and to have paid a Championship player £30,000 for deliberately receiving a yellow card.
The investigation implicated his brother, Akpo Sodje, and Oldham’s Cristian Montaño, raising concerns about the extent of match-fixing in English football. Sodje’s admissions and the subsequent arrests shook the football world, tarnishing his reputation.
Plateau United Feeders and Police Machine
One of the most infamous incidents in Nigerian football occurred in 2013 during promotion playoffs. Plateau United Feeders defeated Akurba FC 79-0, while Police Machine FC crushed Bubayaro FC 67-0. Both results sparked outrage and immediate investigations.
The second halves of both matches raised suspicions, with Plateau United scoring 72 of their goals after halftime and Police Machine netting 61 in the same period. Allegedly, a Plateau United player scored 14 goals, while Police Machine managed four goals in a single minute.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) took swift action, banning the four teams involved for 10 years and issuing lifetime bans to match officials found complicit.
Hakeem Adelakun
Adelakun found himself linked to a match-fixing investigation in late 2013. The National Crime Agency (NCA) arrested several individuals after probes by The Telegraph and Sun on Sunday exposed bribery and corruption in English football.
The 34-year-old was ultimately cleared of conspiracy charges, three others—Michael Boateng, Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, and Chann Sankaran—were convicted of bribery. Sankaran and Ganeshan received five-year prison sentences, while Boateng was jailed for 18 months.
Though Adelakun was exonerated, his association with the case left a blemish on his career. The scandal served as a cautionary tale about the risks of even being indirectly linked to betting schemes. He currently plays for Salford City in the EFL League Two.
