With allowances from as far back as 2019 unresolved, the Nigerian national team takes a stand, refusing to practice until the football federation settles its bills.
A standoff has erupted at the Super Eagles’ training camp in Morocco, casting a shadow over Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Gabon. On Tuesday, the entire team and its officials staged a dramatic boycott of their training session, protesting unpaid allowances and bonuses that some players claim have been pending for years.
The team, stationed at The Rive Hotel in Rabat, had their first practice on Monday evening. However, they refused to take the pitch the following day, vowing not to continue preparations until the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) addresses the longstanding financial grievances.
In an unsigned statement released to the press, the squad explained their position: “The full squad, including officials, boycotted training today in Morocco because of the unresolved issues with outstanding payments. The Super Eagles is awaiting a quick resolution to continue the preparations for Thursday’s game against Gabon.”
According to the players, the issues run deep. They assert that they are still owed winning bonuses from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. The situation has been further complicated, they allege, because the current NFF board has distanced itself from the 2019 debt, claiming it was incurred by a previous administration.
The financial discontent is not just about the past. Players also claim that none of them have received any allowances or bonuses for their recent success in qualifying for the 2025 AFCON or for the current World Cup playoff campaign.
A source close to the team revealed the players’ growing frustration, noting that their desire to represent Nigeria at the World Cup has been the primary reason they have continued to play despite the unpaid bills. However, that patience has now worn thin.
“The players have continued with the games because they all want to go to the World Cup,” the source said. “But they now feel that if they don’t get the money now and they fail to qualify, their chance of ever being paid will be gone.”
Attempts to get an official response from the NFF have so far been unsuccessful. NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and Secretary General Mohammed Sanusi were reportedly en route to Morocco and could not be reached. Repeated calls to the federation’s Media Director, Ademola Olajire, were not returned, leaving the team’s serious allegations unanswered as the crucial match draws near.
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