Management of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Rivers Utd has accused the South African government of frustrating their travel plans as they prepare to face Bloemfontein Celtic.
Rivers Utd., from Southern Nigeria said they’ve tried, without luck to secure visas for their players and staff since they got knocked out of the CAF Champions League.
In a statement revealed by the club’s Media Officer, Charles Mayuku, CAF and the NFF have been informed of the situation, but nothing tangible has been done.
“Despite fulfilling all requirements to obtain visa, the South African Embassy in Nigeria has continued to frustrate every effort of Rivers United, ” the club stated.
Rivers United is due to play Celtic Football Club in the first leg, first round of CAF Confederation Cup in Bloemfontein, South Africa on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 and the only available flight to South Africa is on Friday 18th December, 2020.
“Unfolding events point to the fact that Rivers United may not make the trip, owing to combined issues of non-issuance of visa and availability of flights later than Friday.
Officials of Rivers United have frequented the South African embassy in Abuja, pleading and appealing that visas be issued urgently.
They disclosed that every condition laid before Rivers United officials have been met with cogent and verifiable documents, necessary for a such trip. An official of the team has been in Abuja since December 7, a day after Rivers United’s clash with Futuro Kings of Equatorial Guinea in the preliminary round of the Confederation Cup.
Whilst Rivers United officials continue to pull all strings to ensure urgent issuance of the visas, there are fears it may be futile.
The club however remains determined to play both legs of the clash and qualify for the next round.