Nigeria
goalkeeper Austin Ejide had his blushes spared at Craven Cottage on
Wednesday night when his bizarre own goal was disallowed in his
country's 2-2 draw with Scotland.
The
30-year-old appeared to throw the ball into his net after coming to
claim a corner and making contact with Blackburn defender Grant Hanley.
The
incident has been highlighted after it was confirmed that police were
investigating the fixture ahead of kick-off following a match-fixing tip
off from the National Crime Agency.
Incoming: Nigeria goalkeeper Austin Ejide (yellow shirt) rises to claim a Scotland corner
Butterfingers: Ejide appears to scoop the ball off of Grant Hanley's head and towards his own goal
Goal bound: Ejide's attempted catch sends the ball flying towards Nigeria's goal in the first half
Back of the net: A Nigeria defender desperately attempts to stop Ejide's fumble crossing the line
Premier
League referee Lee Probert blew up for a foul on Ejide after Hanley was
deemed to have fouled the former Bastia stopper.
The
build-up to Wednesday night's game at Craven Cottage was dominated by
talk of a police investigation after possible attempts to rig the
fixture were brought to FIFA's attention.
Speaking
after the game, Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi was quick to deny that his
side were, or would ever be, caught up in a match-fixing scandal.
He
said: 'We did (talk about it) because it’s something ridiculous,
something that we don’t know where it’s coming from. We’re not gamblers,
we are football players. I don’t even know where that is coming from,
we don’t know what happened, match fixing or no match fixing.
'This
is the first time I’ve been a coach or been a player and the first time
I’m hearing this, match-fixing. I don’t think it had anything to do
with our build-up or the game.'
Contact: Ejide was bumped by Scotland defender Grant Hanley (left) as he rose for the ball
No chance: Ejide could only watch as Charlie Mulgrew's shot gave Scotland the lead at Craven Cottage
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