Dolphins
have stated that the walkover against them by Tunisia’s Club Africain in a CAF
Confederation Cup first round, first leg on Saturday was staged managed by
their hosts.
According
to a press release by the club’s Media Officer, China Acheru, the club arrived
in time in Tunis but the Tunisia FA official decided to delay the team’s
movement from the airport to the stadium, and that when they finally did,
Dolphins were being taking round the city of Tunis instead of the match venue
just to make sure they didn’t get to the stadium before the kick-off time of 3
pm.
“We
arrived in Tunis, via Emirates Airline on Saturday, 14 March 2015 at exactly
1pm. And even though our request to have the game postponed was not granted, we
were ready to play as we arrived in good time, though fatigued and travel
weary,” argued Dolphins.
“On our
arrival at 1pm it took the chancery up to two hours before our visas were
processed and passports issued to the delegation (note that Tunisian visa to
Nigerians from Nigeria are issued at point of entry).
“And this
was already the kick-off time. On conclusion of immigration formalities with
the assistance of two Nigerian embassy officials led by M. K. Yusuf we exited
the airport building at 3pm. There was no bus to convey the delegation to the
stadium. It was at this point a certain Mr. Mahmoud Ouaddeni of the Tunisian
Federation showed up.
“Our
federation had already written to CAF, who through Khalid Nassar, deputy
director CAF competitions division had written to the Tunisian Federation,
notifying them of our arrival time, but after more than 20 minutes of waiting,
the bus finally came and we departed for the stadium at about 3.20 pm.
“On our
way to the stadium we sensed that the movement was being stage managed when a
Nigerian, Nnamdi Osuji, who lives in Tunis asked the driver why was the bus
going round and round the streets of Tunis rather than taking a straight route
to the stadium?
“The
federation official, Mahmoud Ouaddeni told us that the supporters would stone
us if we went straight to the stadium. We arrived the stadium at exactly 4pm
and were told we had been walked over by the home team.”
Dolphins
stated further that the fact that there was no hotel reservation for the team
was another evidence to prove that the walkover was planned.
“The Nigerian
ambassador, Joseph Apeh Omede, who was also aware of our arrival was at the
stadium ahead of us trying to hold grounds for us,” said the statement.
“After
this purported walkover, we noticed that there was no hotel reservations made
for us as it is the duty of the host club to make those provisions. Instead,
the host team directed that we should be taken back to the airport from the
stadium.
“It took
the intervention of our ambassador in Tunis, who pressed for them to obey the
rules which allows us reasonable time in the country.
“From
these, it is obvious that the walk over was not only calculated to undermine
the efforts of Dolphins and Nigeria by extension but done in bad faith by the
match officials in collusion with both the host club and the Tunisian
federation.”
Dolphins
earlier requested for a shift in date of the game through NFF following
logistic problems was not granted.
“Before we
departed from Lagos on Thursday, we had informed the Nigeria Football
Federation through Bola Oyeyode, the head of international department and Musa
Amadu, the general secretary, in writing of our challenges and wanted to the
game moved by a day from Saturday to Sunday,” said the Nigerian club.
“It is not
true that Dolphins did not travel for the game as is being speculated in some
sections of the media.
“It is
also not true that Dolphins were stranded in Dubai and thus didn’t make it to
Tunisia.”
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