Reports from the camp of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Rivers United says they have been prevented from leaving their hotel by Moroccan police officers ahead of their crucial return leg in the first round of the CAF Champions League.
The Pride of Rivers who landed in Morocco in the late hours of Thursday had secured a facility for training this afternoon in preparation for the game. However, in the process of leaving for the training session, police officers restricted the players and officials of the team from leaving the hotel citing not getting clearance from the government, despite the facility being paid for.
Rivers United are duly scheduled to train at the Mohammed V Stadium on Saturday as mandated by CAF, but, on a good account, the team has learned that they will be prevented from using the said facility tomorrow as well.
The team has so far informed the Nigerian embassy in Morocco of this shocking development through the Nigeria Football Federation who has also informed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) while we wait for their response.
Rivers United defeated the Moroccan side 2-1 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt last week Sunday and are hoping to consolidate on the result in faraway Morocco.A 35-man contingent consisting of players and officials of the club arrived at the Mohamed V International Airport late Thursday night after a brief stopover in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Sunday’s encounter will hold at the 67,000-capacity Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca at 7 pm Nigeria time.
Recall that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has promised to give $40,000 to each player if they make it to the group stage of the competition.
The Nigerian side are hoping to qualify for the group stage of the CAF Champions League after many years of missing out by club sides in the country.
Fidelis Ilechukwu tutored Plateau United are the other Nigerian representative in the competition and will also be hoping to consolidate on the 2-1 result advantage recorded at the MKO Abiola stadium in Abuja last week Sunday.