Super Eagles Ground Training Over Unpaid Bonuses Ahead of World Cup Clash

The Super Eagles have taken a firm stand, not on the pitch this time, but off it. Just days before their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff against Gabon, Nigeria’s senior men’s team refused to train in Rabat, Morocco, citing long-overdue bonuses and unpaid allowances that reportedly date back as far as 2019.

Sources say the entire 23-man squad, including star striker Victor Osimhen and captain William Troost-Ekong, decided to down tools on November 11, 2025, demanding the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) settle millions in owed payments for their past feats, from AFCON qualification campaigns to the current World Cup playoff push.

The tension has put the NFF under pressure yet again, reigniting conversations about the federation’s financial transparency and the recurring issue of player welfare. NFF President Ibrahim Gusau is said to have flown to Morocco in a bid to calm the storm and get the players back on track before the decisive encounter.

While negotiations are reportedly ongoing, the standoff has cast a shadow over Nigeria’s preparations, with fans expressing both sympathy and frustration. Many believe the team’s demand is justified, pointing to years of broken promises and last-minute crisis management that have plagued Nigerian football.

As the clock ticks toward matchday, all eyes are now on Rabat, not just to see how the Eagles will perform, but whether the NFF can finally get its financial house in order. For now, it’s not just footballs that are grounded; so are the players, waiting for what they’ve rightfully earned.