World football governing body Fifa has extended bans on seven Ugandans implicated in different match-fixing scandals that happened in the 2023/2024 season.
Ahmed Hussein, the head of Communication of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa), confirmed that the five players and two referees who had already been banned in Uganda have now had their bans extended by Fifa.
“Fifa has extended worldwide sanctions on Ugandan players and referees who had earlier been suspended by Fufa in 2023 for engaging in match manipulation,” said a communication released by the Uganda FA on Friday.
According to the Uganda FA who received details of the sanctions from Fifa, the two referees George Nkurunziza and Deogracious Opio have been handed 10-year bans per person.
The five players who have been handed five-year bans are Saleh Maganda (formerly with Calvary FC), Franco Oringa (formerly with Northern Gateway FC), Godfrey Lwesibawa, Yahaya Mahad Kakooza and Andrew Waiswa (all formerly with Gadaffi FC).
“The elevated sanctions have been communicated to the individuals by Fifa and Fufa and start with immediate effect,” stated the communication from the Uganda FA.
The Uganda FA, under the leadership of Moses Hassim Magogo, recently instituted an independent body to handle officials and players implicated in match-fixing scandals.
