The Super Eagles camp in Rabat turned into a battleground, not on the pitch, but over money.
On Tuesday evening, November 11, 2025, Nigeria’s national football team stunned the nation by boycotting training just 48 hours before their crucial 2026 World Cup playoff against Gabon.
The reason? A staggering $6 million in unpaid bonuses and allowances, some dating back to 2019.
Players, led by captain William Troost-Ekong and star striker Victor Osimhen, refused to board the team bus at the Rive Hotel. The training ground at Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium stayed empty.
A joint statement from the squad and technical crew was short but sharp: “We are awaiting a quick resolution to continue preparation for Thursday’s game.”
Sources inside the camp say the players are fed up. One senior player, speaking anonymously, told reporters: “We’re tired of empty promises.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been accused of gross mismanagement. Reports claim the body has received over ₦70 billion in the past decade, with little to show for it.
Even head coach Eric Chelle is reportedly owed four months’ salary.
Tensions had been brewing. On Monday, midfielder Alex Iwobi posted a video from his hotel window showing a rundown compound. The caption? Silence. But the message was loud.
By Tuesday, the full 23-man squad had united in protest. Late arrivals like Osimhen and Alhassan Yusuf joined the stand hours before the boycott began.
The NFF has stayed silent. Communications Director Ademola Olajire and media officer Promise Efoghe did not respond to calls.
This isn’t the first time. In September 2025, players threatened action over a three-year backlog. In 2024, the NFF denied owing AFCON bonuses, only for the truth to surface later.
Now, with Gabon looming on November 13 at the 22,000-capacity Moulay Hassan Stadium, the clock is ticking.
Will the NFF pay up? Will training resume on Wednesday? Or will Nigeria crash out of World Cup contention, again because of off-field drama?
One thing is clear: the Super Eagles are fighting for more than just a win on Thursday.
They’re fighting for respect.
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