Nigeria’s preparation for Thursday’s crucial World Cup qualifying match against Gabon suffered a major setback on Tuesday as the Super Eagles players and officials boycotted training in Morocco over unpaid bonuses and allowances reportedly owed since 2023. Nigerian sports journalist Pooja confirmed the development on X, stating, “Super Eagles players & officials boycott training today in Morocco because of unresolved issues with outstanding payments.”
The financial dispute, which some reports suggest dates back nearly two years, involves bonuses and allowances for past achievements, including qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and for reaching the current stage of the World Cup play-offs. The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Gabon on Thursday in Rabat, with the winner advancing to the African playoff final against Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo on 16 November.
The latest crisis comes hours after Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi posted a short, viral video that allegedly showed the team’s poor lodging conditions in Morocco. The clip, filmed through his hotel room window, captured a rundown environment surrounding the team’s hotel, sparking outrage among fans over the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF)handling of the national team’s welfare.
The players’ decision to boycott training has thrown Nigeria’s World Cup hopes into uncertainty, with morale reportedly at an all-time low. As of press time, the Nigeria Football Federation had not issued an official statement addressing the players’ protest or clarifying when the outstanding bonuses would be settled.
