By Victor Kanayo
One of Nigeria’s representatives at this season’s CAF Confederations Cup, Rivers United, have notified the continental football body over ‘disgusting treatment’ meted on them on arrival at Benghazi for their return leg match against Al Nasr.
To make matter worst, the Nigerian team were subjected to train in darkness, forcing them to use personal phone torchlights on the pitch as the host Libyan team in a bizarre manner influenced stadium managers to switch off lights.
Already, the visiting side has reported the situation to CAF leadership, awaiting response ahead of their return leg game, Heritage Times HT reports.
Rivers United, Nigerian Champions whitewashed Al Nasr 5-0 in Portharcourt in the first leg encounter.
Explaining their ordeal so far in Benghazi, Rivers United wrote via their social media account, “Rivers United’s hosts in Wednesday’s CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC) additional playoff round decider Al Nasr Benghazi have, as expected, begun series of antics to frustrate the Nigerian champions.
“The Nigerian champions stole a march on their hosts by arriving in Benghazi on Monday morning, over 48 hours to the encounter and the Pride of Rivers immediately faced what the game plan of Al Nasr Benghazi would be.
“On arrival at the Benghazi Airport, there were no police escorts nor were there security personnel to usher the visiting team into the city so United had to make do with their well thought-of arrangement before hand.
“Not even a provision for transportation vehicle was made by the hosts as the Nigerians were told in clear terms that they would have to pay for the luxurious bus being provided by their hosts.
“The antics reached a crescendo when Rivers United’s privately arranged training session at a secret facility on Monday night was disrupted after the managers of the facility were intimidated by irate Al Naser fans to switch off the floodlights at the facility and attacked the team with bottles and stones. The irate fans further trailed the team to their hotel harassing players and officials and promising the team “Hell” when they come out for the official training session at the stadium on Tuesday night.”
Both clubs will play in the second return leg fixture on Wednesday November 9, 2022.
