Samson Siasia, a former Super Eagles player and coach, has officially completed a five-year ban imposed by FIFA over match-fixing allegations. The ban, which was reduced from a lifetime penalty by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in 2019, concluded on August 16, 2024.
Siasia was initially handed a lifetime ban in 2019 after being implicated in a match-fixing case dating back to 2010. A match-fixer had attempted to involve Siasia by offering him a coaching job at a club under the fixer’s control in exchange for fielding certain players. However, the negotiations fell through when the club either declined or could not meet Siasia’s demands, and the scheme never progressed further.
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CAS, while reducing the ban, noted that a lifetime suspension was excessive for a first-time offender who played a limited role in the offense. The court emphasized the importance of the punishment serving as a deterrent but acknowledged that Siasia’s involvement was minimal. Alongside the reduction of the ban, CAS also set aside the fine of CHF 50,000 that was initially imposed.
The five-year ban was made retroactive, taking effect on August 16, 2019. Now that the suspension has ended, there is growing speculation about Siasia’s next move. Although he has not publicly disclosed his plans, reports suggest that he might take up a coaching role with the Mighty Jets Football Club in Jos, a decision that could mark his return to Nigerian football.
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Samson Siasia’s career has been distinguished both on the field and on the sidelines. As a player, he earned 51 caps for Nigeria, scoring 13 goals and contributing to the country’s success in the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1994 African Nations Cup.
As a coach, Siasia led Nigeria’s Under-20 team to the final of the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup and secured the African Youth Championship title. He also guided Nigeria’s U-23 team to a silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a bronze medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. In 2016, Siasia briefly served as head coach of the Super Eagles.
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With his ban now behind him, the football community will be watching closely to see if and when Samson Siasia makes his anticipated return to the sport.