Black Stars in $25,000 bribery scandal?

The Graphic Sports carries that an extension of Nigerian 'hospitality' and 'handshake' after a humiliating World Cup qualifying loss to the Super Eagles, has caused a big stir in Nigeria.

The Nigerian press is screaming 'bribery!' over the event last July when the Super Eagles whipped the black Stars 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Port Harcourt and then held a dinner for the Ghanaians at the residence of the Rivers State governor, who allegedly presented $25,000 as gift to the Ghanaian team.

It was a landmark victory for the Nigerians and facilitated the Super Eagles narrowly edging out the Lone Star of Liberia to make their third successive World Cup finals appearance.

Liberian super star, George Weah was first to raise alarm after the game, accusing the Black Stars of complicity in the Super Eagles' 3-0 victory. He was seriously taken on by Black Stars coach Osam Duodu who earlier rather accused Weah of an attempt to influence the results of the Liberia - Ghana match in Monrovia, which Ghana won 2-1.

In the euphoria of that triumph, the Nigerians invited the players and officials of the Ghanaian contingent for a victory dinner at the residence of the State Governor of River State for a treat of Nigerian hospitality, where the cash donation was allegedly made.

But the excitement now over, the often critical Nigerian press, this week raked up the three-month old matter and scandalised the governor's gesture as bribery.

A member of the Ghanaian contingent on that trip on Monday rejected the bribery tag being put on the matter, saying, it was nothing illicit and that the donation was made at a public function.

He said the Nigerians explained at the time that the gesture was a normal Nigerian hospitality extended to all visiting teams and at the same function, about $150,000 was mobilised for the Super Eagles.

It was on the basis of that assurance, he said, that GFA chairman Ben Kuofie received the amount of $25,000 publicly and on behalf of the players and other members of the contingent.

The money was said to have been shared among players and officials on that trip, as a token of Nigerian hospitality and not with any intention of rendering any service in return.