Mohamed Salah (C) of Egypt fights for the ball with Jerry Akaminki (L) and Rashid Sumaila of Ghana during their World Cup 2014 African zone qualifying soccer match at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi October 15, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) have played down allegations by a Ghana FA member claiming that they offered a $1-million bribe to fix a 2014 World Cup qualifier.
Board member Kofi Manu was quoted by radio station Asempa FM on Wednesday as praising his boss Kwesi Nyantakyi for refusing "a $1-million inducement from fixers to throw the last match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier in favour of the Pharaohs".
In a story published on ghanaweb entitled "Egypt wanted to bribe Nyantakyi to fix World Cup qualifier," Manu said: "Kwesi Nyantakyi had the opportunity to take $1million in Egypt...[that] he refused to take.
"I'm not mincing words, I say Kwesi Nyantakyi had the opportunity to take $1million dollars in Egypt and give away that home match to the Egyptians. I won't tell you who wanted to pay but you can also understand," he was quoted as saying on Asempa FM.
Egypt FA have completely denied these allegations and said that they will contact their Ghanaian counterpart seeking explanation.
"The Egyptian FA, under the presidency of Gamal Allam, will file a complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to punish a Ghanaian Football Association member called Kofi Manu and question him,” a statement read on the EFA website Thursday.
However Allam will first contact the Ghana FA courtesy to the "good relationship that ties both associations."
The EFA president said that he is surprised by these "false allegations", asserting that Egypt have always abided by the rules of fair play, and that he "will not give up on the association right after such accusations."
Egypt came inches close to reaching the 2014 World Cup finals, for the first time since 1990 and the third time ever, after topping their group during the qualifiers.
They had one final hurdle: to win against Ghana during the playoff game. Their hopes were dashed following a thrashing 6-1 away defeat at Accra, putting them in front of a mountain to climb before the return leg.
In Cairo Military stadium on 19 November 2013, the seven-time African champions claimed a 2-1 win, a result that allowed the Black Stars to reach the finals on a 7-3 aggregate win.
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