Zimbabwe are in the middle of an alleged match-fixing scandal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations following their 4-0 defeat to DR Congo.
Zimbabwean publication The Herald quotes reports in the Madagascan media that DR Congo could be kicked out of the tournament for trying to influence the result of the match against The Warriors on June 30.
It is claimed in those reports that wealthy TP Mazembe owner and politician Moise Katumbi may have been involved in a plot to sway Zimbabwe goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze to underperform in the 4-0 loss.
It even reports that “a large sum of money was supposed to be transferred into the bank of the Zimbabwean goalkeeper but the transaction was not completed after an Egyptian bank raised the red flag and reportedly declined to handle the issue”.
Baroka FC keeper Chipezeze only played in the match after first-choice George Chigova picked up an injury during the warm-up but did not cover himself in glory, conceding some soft goals.
The matter is now being investigated by a CAF emergency committee, who could remove DR Congo from the tournament and ban the country from the continental tournament for three years as well as issue a hefty fine.
DR Congo are due to play Madagascar in the last 16 but if they are kicked out, their place will either go to The Warriors with a 3-0 score line, or Madagascar will be given a walkover.
However, if Zimbabwe are handed the three points from the DR Congo game, they would move to second place with four points in Group A and, as a result, face Senegal in the last 16. Uganda would replace them in the best third-place ranking and take on Madagascar. Source: Kickoff Magazine.
