Less than 48 hours to Thursday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff against Gabon, worrying signs have emerged from the Super Eagles’ camp in Rabat concerning players and officials reported boycott of training over unresolved issues around unpaid allowances and bonuses.
Competent sources said this temporary setback in Nigeria’s preparations occurred on Tuesday with confirmed reports that the entire squad, including backroom staff, refused to train, citing long-standing financial grievances with the country’s football authorities.
A brief statement reported to have been jointly shared by players and officials, the team confirmed the development, saying, “The full squad including officials withheld from training today in Morocco because of the unresolved issues with outstanding payments.
“The Super Eagles are awaiting a quick resolution to continue preparations for Thursday’s game with Gabon.”
Coming just two days before the Super Eagles face the Panthers of Gabon in the first semi-final of the World Cup Africa Playoff Tournament at the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, the development could well mar Nigeria’s hopes of featuring in the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Super Eagles had, before the training boycott, shown signs of growing confidence following the arrival of Victor Osimhen on Tuesday. The 2023 African Player of the Year joined 22 other players in Rabat, bringing a fresh wave of optimism to head coach Eric Chelle’s squad.
Available reports also indicated that the team’s training sessions had been brisk and tactical, focusing on shape, pressing transitions, and set-piece coordination.
Unfortunately, this dispute over outstanding allowances seems to be casting some doubts over Nigeria’s preparedness for the play-off tournament, especially with players reportedly unhappy about delayed bonuses and appearance fees from previous international engagements.
Meanwhile, an official statement on the matter was still being expected from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) even as camp insiders hinted that high leveled discussions have been held to swiftly resolve the impasse.
According to reports, there are currently 23 Super Eagles players in camp for the must-win encounter in Rabat, including Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Wilfred Ndidi, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, and William Troost-Ekong.
It was reliably gathered that goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was still being expected to arrive in camp as at Tuesday evening. The development adds to an already tense preparation period for the team.
In a related development, as preparations for the encounter geared up, the NFF had, earlier this week, lodged a complain with FIFA challenging the appointment of South African and Beninese match officials for the Gabon tie, citing concerns over neutrality, given both countries’ involvement in Nigeria’s previous qualifying group.
