BY MONICA IHEAKAM
Rangers players would go into today’s CAF Champions League opener against Algerian side, JS Souara in low spirits, no thanks to a bonus row.
Daily Sunsports gathere.d that angry players of the Club before departing the country midweek, rejected the paltry $190 allowance that was offered to them.
The players refused to sign for the cash, saying it is too small.
Rangers will take on the Algerian in a Champions League preliminary round first leg match today.
The match will kick off from 5pm Nigerian time.
“Why is it that it’s only in Rangers we always have story after story?” questioned one of the visibly bitter players before they left for Algeria.
“This is Champions League, not NPFL,” added another Rangers star.
Skipper Okey Odita, who did not make the matchday squad to Algeria, was called up to douse the tension over this paltry allowance, but he could do very little about it as the players stuck to their guns and refused to receive the cash.
A delegation of 18 players and 10 officials are now in Algeria ahead of today’s match.
The Flying Antelopes last season won the NPFL title to return to the continent after failing to win a trophy in 32 years.
… As Rivers United storms Mali
Players and officials of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, Rivers United departed Nigeria for Mali yesterday February 9, 2017.
The contingent which comprised of 20 players and 13 officials left the country via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos at exactly 9;40am and arrived at Houphouet Boigny International Airport, Abidjan at 10;20am Nigerian time.
Afterwards, the contingent will proceed to its final destination, Bamako.
They are expected to arrive at the Bamako Senou International Airport at 2pm Nigerian time. 
Technical manager of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma has assured that the team will give Nigeria creditable representation in Mali on Saturday.
“They boys have worked hard. We know what is expected of us and we will give it our best to try to make the second leg in Nigeria a formality in a week’s time,” Eguma told www.riversunitedfc.com.ng.
The club’s chief coach, Willy Udube also echoed positive sentiments ahead of Saturday’s game.