The hope of Nigerians to see their country feature in the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered another hitch on Tuesday in far away Morocco as members of the National team boycotted training over outstanding claims.
Nigeria, after a late show against Benin on October 14, 2025, finished their World Cup qualifiers with 17 points, one point behind group leaders South Africa and level on points with Benin, but ahead on goal difference. A hat trick from Victor Osimhen helped the Super Eagles defeat Benin 4–0.
However, preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff against Gabon suffered a major setback on Tuesday as players and officials decided to boycott training in Morocco over unresolved issues surrounding unpaid allowances and bonuses.
According to BBC journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, the entire squad, including backroom staff, refused to train on Tuesday due to long-standing financial grievances with football authorities.
In a brief statement reportedly released by the team, both players and officials confirmed the reports, saying:
“The full squad, including officials, withheld from training today in Morocco because of unresolved issues with outstanding payments. The Super Eagles are awaiting a quick resolution to continue preparations for Thursday’s game against Gabon.”
This development comes just two days before a must-win clash against Gabon for a place in the World Cup Africa playoff tournament at the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
The outcome of the match will determine Nigeria’s path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the first time the tournament will be hosted by three countries.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is yet to issue a formal statement on the matter. However, reports indicate that discussions are ongoing to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
The Super Eagles currently have 23 players in camp, including Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze, and Ademola Lookman. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is still expected to arrive.
The players’ frustration is understandable, delayed bonuses and appearance fees should not be an issue for a nation aiming to compete for major silverware. The payment dispute will undoubtedly cast a shadow over the team’s build-up and reignite conversations about why such delays persist.
Football remains one of the few things that unite Nigerians, yet even that seems to be under strain. How far down must we go before things begin to change?
