Nigeria's national football team, the Super Eagles, have boycotted training in Rabat, Morocco, due to a dispute over unpaid allowances and wages. Some players are reportedly owed bonuses dating back to 2019, and payments for qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have also not been made.
The squad, including staff, withheld from training on Tuesday, issuing a statement saying they await a quick resolution to continue preparations for Thursday's World Cup qualifier against Gabon. Captain William Troost-Ekong said: 'Once resolution is found we will be the first to confirm. All we want and continue to do is focus on the big games ahead.'
Talks with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) have so far failed to resolve the issue. The boycott threatens Nigeria's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, as defeat to Gabon would eliminate them entirely.
This is not the first controversy to hit the camp; Fulham's Alex Iwobi recently criticised the team hotel on Snapchat. Despite the turmoil, Iwobi expressed confidence in the team's ability to reach the World Cup, telling BBC Africa: 'Giving ourselves another chance to go into the World Cup, the confidence is high.'
