Nigeria bans national team coach for accepting money

Coach of Nigerian national football team Gernot Rohr (R) discusses with his technical crew Salisu Yusuf (C) and keeper trainer Aloy Agu during the training his team ahead of FIFA World Cup qualifier against their Cameroonian counterpart in Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, southern Nigeria on August 31, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Pius Utomi EKPEI

ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigeria football federation has banned a senior coach of its national team for a year for accepting $1,000 from an undercover reporter who posed as an agent and wanted certain players selected in the squad.

Salisu Yusuf, who has the title of Nigeria chief coach under technical director Gernot Rohr, was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,000.

Yusuf was Rohr’s most senior assistant at the World Cup in Russia and took sole charge of Nigeria at the African Nations Championship earlier this year.

It was before that tournament in January and February that he was approached and given money to select two players, defender Osas Okoro and midfielder Rabiu Ali.

The two were selected but the federation said there was no evidence the money influenced Yusuf’s decision because they were expected to make the squad anyway.

Still, the federation said Wednesday that Yusuf made “a conscious and deliberate decision” to accept a cash gift, which is prohibited.