African football is increasingly pressured to enhance its approach to match manipulation. Disciplinary actions and reports of organized networks highlight vulnerabilities in current integrity measures.
Moses Swaibu, a former professional footballer and the CEO of sports integrity technology firm GC360, commented, "I speak from experience. I was a professional footballer [who] was recruited, and then I did the recruiting. I know how the grooming works because I did it."
Swaibu has worked on integrity education for organizations such as FIFA and UEFA. He emphasizes a cautious approach towards data on suspicious activities. "Rising alert volumes do not automatically mean rising manipulation. They often mean monitoring is getting better," he explains. However, he warns that the infrastructure for detecting manipulation is advancing in Africa faster than preventative measures are being implemented.
He characterizes the syndicates targeting African football as "international, sophisticated and they understand the market."
In Uganda, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) provisionally suspended 13 individuals in June 2024 amid an investigation into a suspected multi-match-fixing operation. This scheme allegedly involved ten referees, two football administrators, and one player. FUFA noted that the investigation, with FIFA's support, had uncovered a syndicate based in South Africa that sought to influence seven matches between October and November 2023, spanning both men’s second division and women’s football. FUFA legal manager Denis Lukambi indicated that 99% of the activity was related to betting, with funds wagered both locally and internationally.
FIFA later extended its sanctions globally against seven individuals already penalized domestically. Five players were barred for five years, while two referees received ten-year bans. FUFA's efforts intensified in November 2024, when its Ethics and Disciplinary Committee sanctioned another twelve individuals linked to a foreign betting syndicate. The penalties ranged from one-year to lifetime bans, with one person receiving a permanent expulsion.
As of June 2026, FUFA's Ethics and Disciplinary Committee found four players and a club administrator culpable of manipulating a Uganda Premier League match between Lugazi FC and Buhimba United Saints, which ended 5-2. Feni Ali, a former player, was handed a lifetime ban as he acted as an intermediary for match-fixers.
Addressing the factors leading to manipulation, Swaibu identifies financial vulnerability as a key element. "The entry point is always the same. It is not greed. It is financial vulnerability," he states. He notes that individuals struggling to pay rent are more susceptible to recruitment than those pursuing luxury items.
This pattern, Swaibu says, aligns with his observations in England, where lower leagues are often targeted despite the top-flight leagues receiving the most attention. He cites the case in Uganda while mentioning Burundi, where six players and a director received five-year bans after being reportedly incentivized to underperform with payments ten times their salaries. Yussuf Mossi, president of Burundi’s competition committee, raised the question of how someone could refuse such an offer.
In Mali, the Malian Football Federation (FEMAFOOT) has referred a Ligue 1 match on June 10, 2024, between Afrique Football Elite and AS Korofina to its Independent Ethics Commission due to integrity-related concerns. However, no findings of match manipulation have been made against either club or any individuals.
Kenya is taking legislative action to bolster its stance on match-fixing. The Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, sponsored by Irene Mayaka, successfully passed the National Assembly on August 19. This bill proposes amendments to the Sports Act of 2013, aiming to redefine manipulation to include offering or receiving undue advantages and conspired results, among others. If enacted, violations could incur fines of up to three times the stake involved or KSh10 million, alongside potential imprisonment.
The revised legislation also designates the Directorate of Criminal Investigations with investigatory responsibilities into potential criminal liability in conjunction with disciplinary processes from relevant sporting bodies. Clubs could face match outcome forfeitures if associated individuals are implicated in manipulation.
This legislative effort follows multiple integrity scandals in Kenyan football. In May 2025, FIFA found that local club Muhoroni Youth had engaged in manipulation activities. Swaibu noted that FIFA has banned players in Kenya for involvement in an international conspiracy, as reported by the Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis, which warned that match-fixing affects various levels of the sport.
Nairobi City Stars' CEO Patrick Korir expressed support for the proposed reforms but cautioned that legislation alone is insufficient to eliminate match manipulation. "There are clubs that have actually shut down because of this vice. Nairobi City Stars right now we are just at the edge whether to continue or just stop playing because there’s no safe space for the investment," Korir said.
Swaibu praised Kenya Football Federation president Hussein Mohammed's move to clear salary arrears for match officials, underscoring its preventative value. "If you are not paying your referees, you are not protecting your competition," he stated.
This challenge is not exclusive to Africa. Cross-border betting networks and technology complicate integrity efforts globally. However, progress is being made: Uganda is utilizing disciplinary methods, Mali is examining the issue through ethics investigations, and Kenya is considering criminal sanctions.
Swaibu emphasized the detrimental impact of manipulated matches beyond immediate results. "It erodes confidence in the entire market built around it. Leagues, broadcasters, sponsors, and bettors all depend on the underlying product being real," he said. Rising betting volumes in Africa underscore the importance of integrity protection.
He argues for the necessity of integrating integrity measures into licensing protocols throughout Africa. "Integrity has to become a formal component of licensing across the continent, not an optional add-on." He concluded by emphasizing that as suspicious bets can easily cross borders, matching the speed of disciplinary action and criminal proceedings remains essential for the region.
