Players and officials of the Super Eagles have boycotted their training session in protest over unpaid allowances owed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Gatekeepers News reports that a source close to the team confirmed to TheCable that the players refused to take part in their scheduled evening training on Tuesday, citing the federation’s failure to settle outstanding payments.
According to the report, the players are yet to receive their allowances for qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2026 World Cup playoff. Some senior members of the squad are also said to be owed bonuses dating as far back as 2019.
Nigeria are scheduled to face Gabon on Thursday in one of the semi-finals of the 2026 African World Cup playoffs. The winner of the tie will meet either Congo DR or Cameroon in the final, with the victor securing Africa’s sole ticket to the intercontinental playoff.
All 24 invited players, led by manager Eric Chelle, are currently camped in Rabat, Morocco, but have reportedly vowed not to resume training until the NFF addresses their grievances.
The report adds that the NFF has a long history of delayed payments to national team players and coaches. In 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved a ₦12 billion intervention fund to clear outstanding salaries of national team coaches—some running up to 15 months—as well as allowances and bonuses owed to various national teams, including the Super Eagles, Super Falcons, and the U-20 side.
