Former Sierra Leone captain Ibrahim Kargbo is one of four Africans to have been banned from football for life for match manipulation by Fifa.

Joining Kargbo are former internationals Seidath Tchomogo from Benin (2003-13) and Hellings Mwakasungula of Malawi (2004-2011).

A 10-year ban was also given to former Kenya international George Owino Audi.

Football’s world governing body said the bans related to attempted match manipulation of international games.

However, Fifa refused to give the details of the matches in question as it also issued a fourth life ban to a players’ agent from Zimbabwe, Kudzanai Shaba.

Not for the first time, the involvement of Singaporean Raj Perumal – a convicted match-fixer who has been closely linked with several manipulated matches in Africa – has been central to the case.

“The formal disciplinary proceedings into the aforementioned individuals stemmed from an extensive investigation into various international matches that Mr Wilson Raj Perumal attempted to manipulate for betting purposes,” a Fifa statement said.

“This large-scale investigation was conducted by Fifa over several years through its Integrity Department and in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and authorities.

“The decisions were notified to the individuals concerned today (Wednesday 24 April), the date on which the relevant bans come into force.”

Kargbo, who represented Sierra Leone from 2000-2013, has previously been accused of match-fixing by the football associations of Sierra Leone and the Netherlands, where he played for Willem II in 2009, but has denied the charges on both occasions.

It is unclear if his case is linked to a long-standing investigation into potential match-fixing involving Sierra Leone during a World Cup qualifier in 2008.