After a crucial win in the first leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary second round tie against Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, Rivers United plans to leave Nigeria early to Morocco for the second leg.
The Pride of Rivers had come back from a goal down to beat defending champions by two goals to one on Saturday in Rivers United.
Understanding the need to acclimatise to the environment for efficiency and effectiveness in their play, the Commissioner for Sport in the state said the team want to leave early.
“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 (Tuesday), the team will leave immediately,” he stated.
He had something to say about those who had written the team off previously before the first leg.
“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.
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.”
Before the first leg in Port Harcourt on Sunday, Governor Wike had approved the sum of $20,000 for each player of Rivers United for winning last season’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title.