Nigeria’s Super Eagles and several team officials refused to train Tuesday in Rabat, Morocco, in protest over unpaid match bonuses and allowances, disrupting preparations for Thursday’s World Cup play-off against Gabon.
Players issued a short statement saying the full squad and backroom staff “boycotted training today in Morocco because of the unresolved issues with outstanding payments” and that they were “awaiting a quick resolution” before resuming. The action came after reports that some payments have been delayed for months.
Several media outlets and a player source say the arrears stretch back about two years, covering bonuses from past AFCON and World Cup qualifying matches — a claim that has deepened anger inside the camp and among fans. The row followed social-media posts from journalists and players showing cramped hotel conditions, which fuelled public frustration.
The boycott comes as Nigerians continue pushing the #SaveNigerianFootball campaign, which demands clearer accounting of Federation money and better treatment of players. The House of Representatives has also launched a formal probe into alleged misuse of more than $25 million in FIFA and CAF grants to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) between 2015 and 2025.
The NFF had not issued a full public response by Tuesday evening, and officials were reported to be in talks to settle the dispute so the team can restart training before Thursday’s decisive fixture.
