Ghana’s second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has blamed corruption for Africa’s five teams poor showing at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia.
All five African teams – Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia – exited this year’s competition in the group stages.
It is the first time the any of the continent’s representatives failed to reach the second round since 1982.
According to the leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), “Systemic corruption in Africa means that most people who are more qualified to be selected into our national teams do not get the opportunity,” said Bagbin.
“Team slots are sold to the highest bidders.
“You may get away with it in your little corner, but when you reach a place like the World Cup where others have only selected their players on merit, you will be exposed,” he said during an interaction with journalists in Accra.
Alban Bagbin blames corruption for Africa's abysmal performance at the World Cup
