Wike’s $40,000 promise will come after second leg, says Green
After their 2-1 victory over African champions, Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca, Morocco, in the first leg of their CAF Champions League tie on Sunday, Rivers United are planning to storm the North African country tomorrow. This, according to the team, is to help the players acclamitise in the North African country ahead of the decisive leg.
But the team’s plan of early departure to Morocco still depends on availability of space in the various airlines the state government has approached.
Against all expectations, Rivers United came from a goal down to beat African champions, Wydad Casablanca, 2-1, at the Adokie Amiesiamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt to put one leg in the group stage of the money-spinning CAF Champions League.
Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Chris Green, told The Guardian, yesterday, they started the process of their early departure to Morocco even before the first leg in Port Harcourt.
“We want to go to Morocco early for the players to settle down ahead of the return leg on Sunday, October 16. The problem we are having is the issue of space in the airline. If we get a green light tomorrow (today), the team will leave immediately,” he stated.
Speaking further, Chris Green, a former chairman, Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said: “Nobody gave Rivers United the chance of beating the defending champions. Many Nigerians thought Wydad would overrun our boys so easily. That mentality by some Nigerian football fans is very bad.
“We thank God for seeing us through in the first leg and I am sure the same God will give us victory in Morocco on Sunday.” On Governor Nyesom Wike’s promise of $40,000 for each player of Rivers United, Green said: “The players will get the money if they win the ticket to the group stage. It means they have to beat Wydad on Sunday.”