January 27, 2008	Sunday	Muharram 17, 1429

SEKONDI (Ghana), Jan 26: Benin manager Reinhard Fabisch has claimed he was approached by an Asian betting syndicate to fix the result of his team’s opening African Nations Cup game against Mali.

The German coach said a man came up to him at the team hotel in Sekondi last Saturday, two days before the Squirrels were beaten 1-0 by Mali in the Group B fixture.

Fabisch, who is willing to provide details of the incident to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), said the man had told him he represented a company based in Singapore which could fix games across Africa.

“I was astonished that he had the guts to approach a German to fix a football match,” said Fabisch.

“I think that African players are vulnerable to this kind of approach, because many of them don’t have money.

“This is why poor countries like Benin are targeted. I cut him short and told him to leave. It doesn’t help football.

“I assume that if someone approaches you like that, then they have that (money) in mind.”

Fabisch, who took over from Wabi Gomez in December after Benin had qualified for the 2008 finals, was tackled again about the incident after Benin’s 4-1 loss to Ivory Coast on Friday evening.

“I’m ready to give the name and number of this man to CAF,” he said.

CAF are reported to have given Fabisch until Saturday to furnish them with a signed account of what took place before they open an inquiry.—AFP