Following allegations that a national team goalkeeper had assisted in the rigging of an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, Kenya on Thursday began a match-fixing investigation.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) acknowledged that it was aware of online videos that featured goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, which raised concerns about match-related potential manipulation.
The Kenya football board stated in a statement that FIFA upholds the integrity of football and has launched an official investigation in collaboration with FIFA, CAF, and other relevant authorities.
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We reaffirm our zero tolerance for match-tasting and are committed to keeping our competition’s credibility afloat.
An unnamed man is reportedly speaking with Matasi about a plan to fix a match in exchange for money in the secretly filmed online amateur video that was seen by AFP.
In a 2025 AFCON qualifier in Yaounde in October, the former AFC Leopards and Tusker goalkeeper, who also played for Ethiopian side Coffee Sports Club, participated in Kenya’s 4-1 defeat to former African champions Cameroon.
Kenya’s chances of making it to the Moroccan finals were thwarted by the defeat, which also resulted in Engin Firat resigning as coach.
Matasi did not play in the recent World Cup qualifiers against Gabon and Gambia because of the new coach’s suspension, Benni McCarthy.
In recent years, Kenyan football has experienced the dark side of match-fixing errors, with 14 players and two coaches being suspended by the FKF in January 2023 as a result of a tip-off about cheating in the national league.
FIFA banned four Kenyan-based players from playing in league games in February 2020, one of whom was permanently banned for life.
Following the same scandal, five Kenyan referees received additional suspensions.
Independent think tank the Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis warned that match-fixing had spread to all levels of Kenyan football, from grassroots competitions to professional leagues.
In a report from January 2024, the organization stated that “This has left a trail of disillusionment among fans and undermined the integrity of football.”
Source: Channels TV
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