The Africa Cup of Nations was plunged into fresh controversy as Nigeria's national team threatened to forfeit their crucial quarter-final match against Algeria in a dramatic standoff over unpaid bonuses.
Bonus Dispute Brings Team to Brink of Withdrawal
The Super Eagles' campaign in Morocco looked set to end not on the pitch, but through administrative failure after players and coaching staff united in refusing to travel from their Fes base to Marrakech for Saturday's fixture. The squad warned they would not participate in any training sessions or the match itself unless outstanding payments were settled.
At the heart of the dispute were unpaid winning bonuses for all four of Nigeria's tournament matches – victories against Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Mozambique in both the group stage and round of 16. Reports indicate each player was owed approximately £32,000 (around $42,500) in total, a significant sum that had failed to materialise despite previous assurances.
A Recurring Pattern of Financial Chaos
This incident represents a depressingly familiar pattern in Nigerian football administration. Just two months earlier, the team launched a similar strike during World Cup playoffs, with players citing unpaid allowances as a major distraction that contributed to their failure to qualify after losing to DR Congo.
Senior squad members have repeatedly emphasised that these protests are about more than immediate payments. They represent a broader demand for administrative accountability from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with established players hoping to secure better conditions for the next generation of Nigerian footballers.
The situation became so critical that Federal Government intervention was required on Thursday. The Minister of State for Finance confirmed the payments had cleared regulatory hurdles and were being transferred directly to players' domiciliary accounts to bypass further bureaucratic delays.
Crisis Averted as Squad Focuses on Algeria Clash
Following official assurances that their bank balances would reflect the payments by Friday, the squad finally undertook the five-hour journey from Fes to Marrakech. The Super Eagles resumed training on Thursday evening, shifting their focus back to football ahead of the highly anticipated rematch against Algeria – a repeat of the 2019 semi-final.
Nigeria currently boasts the tournament's best attacking record with 12 goals, making the resolution of this financial crisis particularly vital for their championship aspirations. The quarter-final is scheduled to kick off at 4pm GMT on Saturday in Marrakech.
The episode has drawn attention to several Premier League stars within the Nigerian squad, including:
- Alex Iwobi – Midfielder at Fulham
- Calvin Bassey – Defender at Fulham
- Frank Onyeka – Midfielder at Brentford
- Ola Aina – Defender at Nottingham Forest
While the immediate bonus issue appears settled, significant pressure remains on the NFF to ensure no further financial distractions emerge should Nigeria advance to the semi-finals. The organisation's repeated failures in this area continue to threaten the nation's footballing success on the international stage.
