Drama as NPFL Champions Rivers United Deny Involvement in the Transfer of Rafiu Ishaq to Slovenian Club NK Maribor

Three days ago, news outlets and sports journalists in Africa and Slovenia reported that Ishaq Rafiu has joined Slovenian club NK Maribor on a free transfer from 2021/2022 NPFL Champions Rivers United; subject to official announcement from the Rivers State club, the player was reported to have agreed to the move. 

Just this evening, an official statement from the Rivers United management explains that Rafiu Ishaq is still their player and they are not aware of transferring the player or endorsing his move to any club in Slovenia, hence, the player still remains theirs until official arrangements and agreements between the both parties.

Update ‼️

Kayode Ishaq Rafiu departs from the champions to join Slovenian side NK Maribor#NPFLUpdates pic.twitter.com/JBvNppBFri

— NPFL News 🇳🇬 (@NPFL_News) July 26, 2022

Nigerijski krilni napadalec Ishaq Kayode Rafiu je novi član @NKMaribor. Enaindvajsetletnik je s Štajerci sklenil triletno pogodbo, v Ljudski vrt pa se seli kot aktualni nigerijski prvak. #PrvaLigaTelemach pic.twitter.com/u96x6fdQFx

— Prva liga Telemach (@PrvaLigaSi) July 26, 2022

Developing...
Slovenian side NK Maribor have agreed a deal with Rivers Utd for the transfer of @NGSuperEagles winger Ishaq Rafiu.
Deal signed, personal terms agreed with the player. He's due to fly out to join the team sometime next week.https://t.co/ha8uBkqNdl

— Andrew Randa (@RandaAndrew) July 26, 2022

Ishaq Rafiu joins Slovenia giants NK Maribor - https://t.co/H1Wdf2vh2s pic.twitter.com/Oc1wtowTSq

— Sports Radio Brila FM (@Brilafm889) July 27, 2022

The official statement also reports that the matter has been reported to football governing body FIFA, and that player went AWOL on the club and has absconded without the notice of the parent club; therefore, except the official NPFL window opens on August 1, Rafiu Ishaq remains their property.

Press Statement

Ishaq Rafiu Kayode Remains Rivers United Player - Management @LMCNPFL @thenff pic.twitter.com/UCiQdEGQvs

— Rivers United FC (@RiversUnitedFC) July 27, 2022

As a club, we are not aware of any such purported transfer as the player only absconded from the club and this position has been made known to FIFA thus any acquisition of the player without our consent is null and void.

— Rivers United FC (@RiversUnitedFC) July 27, 2022

We await a reply from both the player and the Slovenian club NK Maribor, who have already presented the player officially.

Ishaq Kayode Rafiu, dobrodošel v Ljudskem vrtu!

21-letni krilni napadalec prihaja kot nigerijski reprezentant, z naslovom državnega prvaka.

➡️ https://t.co/JAltF9GNQL#MiSkupajEnoSmo pic.twitter.com/pXKJMFneOL

— NK Maribor (@nkmaribor) July 26, 2022

Tags: Rivers United, NK Maribor, FIFA, NPFL, Rafiu Ishaq, LMC