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Nigeria’s preparations for Thursday’s crucial World Cup play-off against Gabon suffered a major setback on Tuesday, Footynaija.com reports.
This is as the Super Eagles and their technical crew boycotted training in Rabat, Morocco, over unpaid bonuses.
According to reports from BBC Sport’s Oluwashina Okeleji, the players and staff collectively refused to train, citing years of unpaid allowances dating as far back as 2023.
The bonuses reportedly cover achievements including Nigeria’s qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and their progress to the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa play-offs.
In a joint statement released from the team’s Moroccan base, the Super Eagles confirmed their decision to down tools:
“The full squad, including officials, withheld from training today in Morocco because of unresolved issues with outstanding payments. The Super Eagles are awaiting a quick resolution to continue preparation for Thursday’s game with Gabon. Thank you. From the players.”
Okeleji added on X (formerly Twitter) that the players were “tired of empty promises” and are awaiting “a quick resolution” before resuming their training schedule. The boycott was independently confirmed by sports photojournalist Sulaimon Adebayo, who is covering the team’s camp in Rabat.
Efforts to get official comments from Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Communications Director Ademola Olajire and Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
The Super Eagles camp currently comprises 23 players, including captain William Troost-Ekong, Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Wilfred Ndidi, and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Maduka Okoye, who recently returned to form with Udinese, is the only absentee yet to report for duty.
Nigeria had trained on Monday with 14 players present as head coach Eric Chelle pushed to fine-tune tactics ahead of the semi-final clash against Gabon at the 22,000-capacity Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat. The camp, which opened on Sunday, had shown promising intensity before the abrupt disruption.
The timing of the strike could not be worse for Chelle’s side, with Gabon reportedly in high spirits and training uninterrupted. The winner of Thursday’s tie will meet either Cameroon or DR Congo in the final on November 16, with a ticket to the inter-confederation play-offs, and potentially the 2026 World Cup in North America, on the line.
