Promise Eze
Rivers United, the Nigerian champions, suffered an unfortunate incident on Saturday, May 1st, 2023, as they were attacked by fans in Tanzania.
The team’s bus was sprayed with poisonous chemicals, and valuables worth thousands of dollars were stolen.
This occurred barely 24 hours to the kick-off of the #TotalEnergiesCAFCC quarterfinal second-leg tie against Young Africans.
The incident happened during the club’s training session at the Benjamin Nkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam.
The players discovered after the training session that their bus had been broken into, ransacked, and $5,250 stolen. Rivers United have lodged a petition with CAF as they await further action from the football ruling body.
“The Pride of Rivers while completing their final training session noticed that their team bus was broken into and sprayed with toxic chemicals,” the team’s media noted.
The incident has been a source of concern for the Nigerian club as they hope to overturn their deficit in the quarterfinal second-leg tie against Young Africans. Rivers United are down on aggregate after the Tanzania side defeated them 2-0 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria, in the first leg.
Rivers United broke the news on their official Twitter page and shared a video of CAF officials led by the General Coordinator, Ali Nwebe, on the ground to witness the incident alongside Head of Security Jamil Bawalaggana Mpagi.
“CAFCC: Rivers United FC Bus Burgled, Sprayed With Toxic Chemical Barely 24 hours to the kick-off of the #TotalEnergiesCAFCC quarterfinal 2nd leg tie in Dar es Salam, Rivers United’s team bus has been burgled and valuables worth thousands of dollars stolen,” the club wrote.