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The Nigerian champions had alleged that their Tanzanian hosts 'sprayed toxic chemicals' inside their bus ahead of their Confederation Cup quarterfinal second leg.
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions Rivers United have confirmed they have reported Tanzania's Young Africans to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the alleged spraying of toxic chemicals in their team bus and valuables stolen on Friday night.
The Nigerian side revealed on Saturday that they found their bus sprayed with poisonous chemicals and $5,250 (over N3.8 million) stolen ahead of their all-important CAFCC quarterfinal second-leg clash with the Tanzanian giants.
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20:19 - 29.04.2023
CAFCC: Rivers United attacked, players strangled ahead of crunch tie in Tanzania
Nigerian champions Rivers United have had their bus sprayed with poisonous chemicals and over N3.8 million stolen ahead of the all-important CAFCC clash with Young Africans.
Rivers United confirm case taken to CAF
A statement by the club which claimed that the incident happened during their final training sessions at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, revealed that the matter have now been tabled before Africa's football governing body.
"The Pride of Rivers, while completing their final training session ahead of the clash against Young Africans of Tanzania, noticed that their team bus has been broken into and sprayed with toxic chemicals and a sum of $5,250 is missing," the club's statement read in part.
"On ground to witness the horrible incident are CAF General Coordinator, Ali Nwebe (Uganda), 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 go into Sunday's encounter with a 2-0 deficit having fallen to a home defeat at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo in the first leg.
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13:07 - 29.04.2023
CAFCC: Rivers United's stars make 'passionate plea' ahead of ‘Nigerian affair’ vs Young Africans
Rivers United lost the first leg in Nigeria but have promised not to disappoint Nigerians a second time against Young Africans in the CAFCC.
'Dirty tricks' a prevalence in Tanzania football
Cases of pre-match rituals have been prevalent in Tanzania football, the most recent case being carried out on Egyptian side Pyramids FC when they visited the country in March 2021 for a Confederation Cup group match against Namungo FC.
The Egyptians claimed they were forced to rewash their jersey after they found them sprayed with an itching white substance in Benjamin Mkapa Stadium's changing rooms.
Like Rivers United, Pyramids sent a protest letter to CAF complaining that Namungo FC spread white substances in their dressing room before their game kicked off.
There have been claims of 'black magic' in Tanzania and African football, most of which are yet to have been proven to have affected the game.
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