PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA — Several players and officials of Nigerian football club Rivers United FC have reportedly sustained injuries after the team’s official bus was involved in a road accident on Thursday while travelling for a Federation Cup fixture.
The incident occurred along the Obiri-Ikwerre Airport Road in Port Harcourt as the team was en route to Awka, Anambra State, where they were scheduled to face Nasarawa United in the President’s Federation Cup Round of 16 match.
According to initial reports from the club, the vehicle conveying players, coaching staff, and other officials lost control under circumstances that are yet to be fully confirmed. Emergency response efforts were quickly mobilised to assist those affected at the scene.
Sources within the club confirmed that multiple individuals sustained varying degrees of injury, although the exact number of affected persons and the severity of their conditions had not been fully disclosed at the time of reporting. Medical teams were said to have attended to the injured immediately after the accident.
The management of Rivers United FC expressed concern over the incident, noting that the safety and wellbeing of players and staff remain the top priority. The club is expected to issue a formal statement detailing the condition of those involved and the next steps regarding the postponed or affected fixture.
The Federation Cup match against Nasarawa United was part of the ongoing knockout stage of the national competition, which features clubs from across Nigeria’s football leagues. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is also expected to review the situation in light of the accident and determine any necessary adjustments to the fixture schedule.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the crash caused significant disruption along the busy highway, with commuters temporarily affected as emergency responders worked to manage the situation and clear the road.
Authorities have yet to release an official report on the cause of the accident, but investigations are expected to be launched to determine whether mechanical failure, road conditions, or human error played a role.
As the situation develops, attention remains focused on the health status of the injured players and officials, with fans and stakeholders across Nigerian football expressing concern and sending messages of support to the club.
