Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
Rivers United of Port Harcourt has raised alarm over the antics of Al Masry and the Egyptian Embassy to deny entry visas to some officials of the club including two journalists ahead of the second leg tie of the additional round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Rivers United defeated Al Masry of Egypt two one in the first leg tie played at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba.
The team is scheduled to travel on Thursday 2nd December 2021 to Egypt but is currently experiencing difficulties in securing entry visas for some officials and two journalists.
The Media officer of Rivers United Charles Mayuku made this disclosure to newsmen.
He said the club has written to the continental football governing body Confederation of African Football CAF through the Nigeria Football Federation NFF on the latest development.
”The club has been experiencing difficulties trying to procure visas and of course also the arrangement towards that second leg fixture. As we speak, the club is scheduled to travel on Thursday 2nd December to Egypt, but at the moment some members of the contingent have been denied entry visas including two journalists that the team had submitted their passports for visas but those two journalists have been refused entry visas. It’s part of their antics to see that Rivers United is frustrated and of course, Nigerians do not get details of live updates of what is happening in Egypt” he said.
The Media Officer of Rivers United Charles Mayuku also said that the ‘Pride of Rivers’ has received serious threats from fans of Al Masry who he allegedly promised to unleash mayhem on the Port Harcourt-based club.
He also laments that Al Masry is trying to use Covid-19 testing to reduce the number of Rivers United continent ahead of the second leg tie.
Charles Mayuku, however, said the club will not be deterred by the antics of Al Masry to unsettle the team but promised to surmount the challenges encountered ahead of the game.
The game will take place on 5th December 2021 in Alexandria Egypt.
Rivers United Supporters Club Chairman Applauds Aba Fans
Rivers United Supporters Club Chairman, Franklin Owhor has saluted the Aba fans for coming out in droves and their unrelenting support during the first leg tie of CAF additional round second leg tie against Al Masry of Egypt
Singling out, Enyimba Fans’ Chairman, Steve Ukewani for praises, Owhor said, “Rivers United wants to commend the Chairman of Enyimba’s supporter’s club, Steve Ukewani who mobilized for us and supported us with an open mind, and the fans in Aba really did well for Rivers United people, we expect that if the players show this same commitment in Egypt at least up to 80% then Rivers United will qualify for the group stage. The Aba fans enjoyed the game on Sunday and that is why they trooped out to support us, so we commend the supporters of Enyimba and the fans in Aba who came en masse to support us.”
Recall, Rivers United were barred from playing at the Adokiye Amiesamaka Stadium by CAF after a few facilities were requested to be upgraded.
The Stanley Eguma tutored side will visit Alexandria for the reverse fixture on December 5, and a draw will be enough to lift the Port Harcourt-based team into the group phase of the competition.
