World football governing body FIFA has banned former Nigerian coach Samson Siasia for life after he was found guilty of accepting to receive bribes in order to manipulate matches.

Siasia, who also led Nigeria U20 and Nigeria U23 teams to second-place finishes at the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was also fined CHF 50,000 (around $51,000).

According to the football authority, the 52-year-old breached the 2009 edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics after investigations began on February 11 this year.

“The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Mr Samson Siasia, a former official of the Nigeria Football Federation, guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics,” wrote FIFA in a statement.

“The formal ethics proceedings against Mr Siasia were initiated on 11 February 2019 and stem from an extensive investigation into matches that Mr Wilson Raj Perumal attempted to manipulate for betting purposes.

“This large-scale investigation was conducted by FIFA via its competent departments and in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and authorities,” the statement continued.

Siasia is the third African to be banned by FIFA for his links to Perumal after former Sierra Leone FA official Abu Bakarr Kabba and former Botswana FA official Mooketsi Kgotlele were suspended in July for five years and for life respectively.

Siasia is also a former Nigeria international featured over 50 times for the Super Eagles and won the 1994 Cup of Nations.

He is the second Nigerian to be punished for bribery after Salisu Yusuf.