Lobi Stars players accused of staging fake attack to avoid match-fixing sanctions

By Dayo Awoniyi

A major scandal has rocked Nigerian football, with Lobi Stars’ management accusing its own players of staging a fake attack in an attempt to avoid punishment for alleged match-fixing.

According to the club’s management, the players orchestrated the attack to divert attention from a scheduled meeting aimed at investigating suspicious behavior during a recent match against Abia Warriors.

“The true story is that during the match against Abia Warriors, there was clear evidence of foul play, suggesting that the match was compromised,” the club’s management revealed in a statement.

The club further alleged that the players, fearing they could be implicated and sanctioned during the meeting, staged the attack to garner public sympathy and shift focus away from the investigation.

“It appears that the so-called cultist attack was orchestrated by enemies of the club to discredit the board led by Dr. Philip Nongu and the government of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia, who have been supportive of Lobi Stars Football Club,” the management added.

A closer look at a video of the alleged attack has raised further doubts. The management described the footage as a “poorly executed stunt” that fails to resemble a genuine cultist attack on players.

“Why would the chairman of the club orchestrate an attack on players when he could simply impose sanctions?” the management questioned.

The club concluded with a call for transparency, stating, “The so-called cultist attack was staged to avoid punitive measures, and the players are aware of their actions and those of their external collaborators. It is time to reveal the truth.”