Rivers United technical manager, Stanley Eguma is optimistic Nigerian clubs can hold their own in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup this year. Rivers United and Rangers will both fly Nigeria’s flag in Africa’s premiere club competition – the Champions League while Wikki Tourists and FC Ifeanyiubah will both seek to become the first […]
via Don’t Rule Out NPFL Sides From Ruffling Feathers On The Continent – Eguma — newfanzoneblog
There is a ray of hope for Dolphins Football Club as regards their protest to the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF, because of the purported walk over by Club Africain in their game over the weekend.
After a long drawn out protest saga by Dolphins, through the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF international department, it seems CAF will make a decision that favours Dolphins.
A letter from Khaled Naddar, a Deputy Director at CAF in the competitions department dated March, 16, 2015 read thus:
Reference to the above mentioned match which was initially scheduled on 14th March 2015; we would like to request your team Dolphins to stay in Tunis until a decision is reached and communicated to you.
There have been series of emails, and telephone conversations between officials of the team, the NFF and CAF as regards this issue and this letter from CAF gives a ray of hope.
Dolphins are protesting their walk over by Club Africain even though they arrived in the country in good time for the game, after late departure though.
However, the team was delayed at the airport for two hours and then taken on a merry go round on the streets of Tunisia before arriving at the stadium after walk over formalities had been concluded.
Dolphins had written to CAF on Thursday, March 12, through the NFF, before departure from Lagos requesting the game to be moved from Saturday, March 14 to Sunday March 15.
We also want to thank the Rivers State Sports commissioner, Fred Igwe, officials of the international department of the NFF and Nigerians generally who have stood by us.
As a result, our team will no longer depart from Tunisia at 2.30 pm on Tuesday, March 17 as was previously planned because we will wait for the decision by CAF.
Whatever decision CAF finally reaches, we believe we have put up a good case on how clubs should be treated by their hosts before during and after games on the continent
Warri Wolves have been denied by the host Federation two days after arriving Bizerte for their second leg Confederation Cup match with C.A.Bizertin and less than 48 hours contrary to CAF rules which says an away team must be allowed to train at least twice before any match.
The Warri based team had hoped that they will have access to the pitch on Friday afternoon but they were surprised to hear that they cannot make use of the place as the host said training there will affect the natural grass.
With that, Warri Wolves decided to make use of a training pitch belonging to a third division club based in Bizerte, an action which did not go down well with the players who had wanted to have a feel of the pitch.
Speaking on their action, Coach Okpodu said this will bring out the best from his boys as they are more desired to play against the boys whom they feel are not better than them.
‘ The boys are not happy but they are not demoralized either because they know what is at stake. This will spur them the better because they believe they were unlucky at home and this is an opportunity to prove who is better. I only want to pray for fair officiating and it will be well’
Warri Wolves Football Club arrived Bizerte on Wednesday evening to a very harsh weather as the team is kept in Corniche Palace Hotel, situated by the sea which has compounded the weather problem facing the players.
Apart from the harsh weather, the team could not train on Thursday morning because of a heavy down pour but the Coaches have decided to reschedule the training to 2.00 clock in the evening but the good news is that the Management led by Davidson Owumi is tackling what they called” psychological war” headlong by advising the players they have no choice but to deliver.
Owumi who spoke with the players early Thursday morning told the players they just have to deliver, weather or no weather and that management will do everything to motivate them towards conquering the Tunisian side who held them to a draw in Warri last week.
Owumi also told the players that Captain Azubuike who could not make the trip due to his marriage has decided to join alongside Josiah Maduabuchi who was left behind due to paper problem in Lagos.
According to Owumi, both players will join the team on Friday morning with the sole aim of qualifying for the next round.
” I want to thank all of you for your understanding and you all to know that this is another psychological war which must be won as you can see that we have been kept by the sea to make the weather worse for us. You can also see that the quality of the food wehqve been given is nothing to write home about but we must win this match for Nigerians. We will do our best to encourage you and you have no choice than to deliver” said Owumi who is not new to matters like this.
Meanwhile, the match will come up on Sunday by 1.30pm (Nigeria time) with match officials coming from Sudan while the match Commissioner is from neighboring State, Morocco.
It would be recalled that the referees for the first leg in Warri came from Morocco, Tunisia neighbour which made it difficult for the Warri players to understand the conversation between the Tunisian players and the centre referee each time there was any complaint.
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