Back in July, Ghana Premier League defender Hashmin Musah went viral after deliberately scoring two own goals in a match in order to foil a ‘match-fixing plot’.Musah, playing for Inter Allies, purposely put the ball through his own net twice in an eventual 7-0 defeat against Ashanti Gold in Ghana’s top flight.The centre-back went on to tell reporters that he did so with the intention of ruining what he believed to be a pre-arranged 5-1 win for Ashanti Gold."I heard in our hotel that a bet had been made for a correct scoreline of 5-1 against my club Inter Allies," Musah told the press after the match."I decided to spoil that bet because I don't condone betting. After the game, my technical team commended me for spoiling the bet they had staked."Footage of the own goals went viral on social media. Musah's own goals were so blatant, sparking global attention.
The matter has taken an extreme turn, however, with Musah now being charged with match-fixing himself.
Ghana’s FA investigated the alleged irregularities and have decided to charge Musah with match-fixing and bringing the game into disrepute. The defender is one of 18 players and six officials across both teams to have been charged with various offences, including match-fixing, according to BBC Sport.
Three Inter Allies players have been charged, while 15 Ashanti Gold players are also in disciplinary trouble. The BBC's report claims Musah could be banned from football for his part.
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Ghana’s Football Association requested statements of defence from those involved and Ashanti Gold president has already protected his club’s innocence.
"We have not done anything bad because we always beat people 4-0, 5-0 or 5-4," Ashanti Gold president Kwaku Frimpong told BBC Sport Africa.
"We beat them five and their defender [Musah] scored two himself. I think they have to put the blame on the guy who scored himself because it's unprecedented.
"So why do we have to blame Ashanti Gold? This is jealousy and they just want to destroy my name. I have not talked to any president or any club. We have done nothing."
Ghana has a history of match-fixing issues, with a 2018 investigation by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas exposing the illicit activity of top officials and referees in the country.
The matter has reared its ugly head once again in the most baffling of ways.