Turkish court acquits Emenike over match-fixing

Turkey’s state-run news agency says Nigeria international and former Fenerbahce striker Emmanuel Emenike has been acquitted in Turkey’s match-fixing scandal.

Emenike was among dozens of people – including Fenerbahce officials – who were charged with match-fixing in 2011.

Prosecutors had claimed that Emenike, who played for Karabuk at the time, was promised a transfer to Fenerbahce in return for not playing against the Istanbul side. Emenike denied the accusations, saying he was injured a week before the game and had a doctor’s certificate to prove it.

Emenike later transferred to Fenerbahce for an undisclosed fee but never played for the team and later moved to Spartak Moscow.

The Anadolu Agency said a court in Istanbul acquitted Emenike on Thursday citing ”lack of credible evidence.”

Emenike was part of Nigeria’s Super Eagles that won the African Cup of Nations in South Africa last February – Nigeria’s first continental victory since 1994. His four goals proved crucial to the Eagles’ progress through the tournament. He also received the tournament award for highest goal scorer, with four goals.