TheCable

Rivers United have alleged that its team bus was burgled and $5,250 stolen in Tanzania ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final encounter with Young Africans.

The club also claimed that the assailants sprayed the bus with “toxic chemicals”.

The Port Harcourt-based club said the players were completing their final training session on Saturday when the incident happened.

Officials of CAF were said to have been invited to inspect the bus while the club has forwarded a petition to the African football ruling body.

“Barely 24 hours to the kick-off of the Total Energies CAF CC quarter-final 2nd leg tie in Dar es Salam, Rivers United’s team bus has been burgled and valuables worth thousands of dollars stolen,” the club said in a statement posted on Twitter.

“The Pride of Rivers while completing their final training session ahead of the clash against Young Africans of Tanzania noticed that their team bus had been broken into and sprayed with toxic chemicals and a sum of $5,250 were missing.

“On the ground to witness the horrible incident are CAF General Coordinator, Ali Nwebe (Uganda), and CAF Head of Security, Jamil Bawalaggana Mpagi (Uganda), who have confirmed that a toxic chemical was sprayed in the bus.

“Rivers United have petitioned CAF as they await further action from the football ruling body.”

The Nigerian side is looking to overturn the 2-0 loss suffered in the first leg of the tie at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

The second leg will take place at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar-es-Salam, the capital of Tanzania, by 6pm on Sunday.