Nigeria Players Boycott Training Over Unpaid Bonuses Ahead of Crucial World Cup Play-Off
Nigeria’s preparations for their decisive 2026 World Cup play-off against Gabon have been disrupted after players and technical staff boycotted training on Tuesday over long-standing unpaid bonuses and allowances.
The protest, coming just two days before Thursday’s semi-final play-off in Rabat, Morocco, has exposed renewed tension between the players and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Several squad members say they have not received payments owed from as far back as 2019, according to reports from BBC Sport Africa.
Leading players including Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman joined the strike, demanding transparency and immediate action from the NFF. Team captain William Troost-Ekong wrote on social media platform X: “Once a resolution is found, we will be the first to confirm. All we want and continue to do is focus on the big games ahead.”
The boycott has left Nigeria’s training camp at a standstill, raising concerns over the team’s readiness for Thursday’s crucial fixture at the Moulay Hassan Stadium. Sources close to the NFF said urgent talks were underway to resolve the impasse, though the federation has yet to issue an official statement.
Nigeria are expected to return to training on Wednesday if an agreement is reached. The Super Eagles must beat Gabon to keep their hopes alive for a place at the 2026 World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The winner of Thursday’s match will face Cameroon or DR Congo in Sunday’s African play-off final. The victor from that tie will advance to an intercontinental qualifying tournament in March, where two remaining World Cup spots will be decided.
The dispute highlights a familiar issue for Nigerian football, where bonus rows have frequently overshadowed key international fixtures. With qualification hopes hanging in the balance, resolving the standoff swiftly is seen as vital to keeping the team united before their most important match of the campaign.