Stanley Eguma expresses dissatisfaction with Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium rejection

By Saheed Afolabi

Head coach of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma has expressed shock over CAF decision not to approve the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt for the team’s campaign in the group state of the CAF Confederation Cup.

On Tuesday, CAF announced that Rivers United will play their CAF Confederation Cup matches at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo, following the rejection of the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium, Port Harcourt, having failed to meet up with the required standard for continental matches.

And the surprised Eguma disagreed with CAF over the rejection of Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, while urging the Nigeria Football Federation to wade into the matter.

“It was surprising news to me because I think we have a very good facility here, we have been playing in the continent in the past, why CAF decided I wouldn’t know,” Eguma told media.

“The NFF should wade into the matter because this is the only team on the continent.”

Having won the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) last season, they automatically represented Nigeria at the CAF Champions League but they were shown the exit door in the second round by the defending champions, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.

Relegated to the CAF Confederation Cup, the Pride of Rivers qualified to the group stage by knocking out Libyan side Al Nasr over two legs.

Rivers United will battle Asec Mimosa (Cote D’Ivoire), Diables Noirs (Congo) and Motema Pembe (DR Congo) in group B of the CAF Confederation Cup.