Nigeria’s Super Eagles and technical staff boycotted training in Rabat on Tuesday due to unresolved incentive payments, increasing concerns ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa play-off semi-final against Gabon.
According to BBC Sports journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, the players and officials declined to participate in the protest, citing outstanding allowances dating back to 2019 for successes such as reaching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and qualifying for the World Cup play-offs.
Okeleji stated on X that the players and staff were “awaiting a quick resolution to continue preparations for Thursday’s game.”
He also stated that none of the Super Eagles players had received their assigned incentives, calling the situation “tired of empty promises.”
Attached to the tweet was a statement allegedly signed by the squad and technical staff, which read in full, “The entire squad, including officials, withheld from training today in Morocco due to unresolved concerns with unpaid payments.
“The Super Eagles are awaiting a quick resolution to continue preparation for Thursday’s game with Gabon. Thank you. From the players.”
The boycott was confirmed by Sulaimon Adebayo, a sports photojournalist following the team’s camp in Morocco.
The squad currently in Morocco consists of 23 players, including captain William Troost-Ekong; forwards Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Chidera Ejuke, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, and Akor Adams; defenders Calvin Bassey, Chidozie Awaziem, Benjamin Frederick, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi, Amas Obasogie, and Stanley Nwabali; and midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Alhassan Yusuf, Tolu Arokodare, Olakunle Olusegun, and Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Maduka Okoye, a goalkeeper who recently returned to form in Serie A with Udinese, is the sole player who has yet to join the camp.
The Super Eagles held their first full training session on Monday in Rabat, with 14 players present, as head coach Eric Chelle stepped up preparations.
Sevilla’s Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke did not play, but the appearance of African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman in the afternoon offered extra attacking options to the team.
The camp formally began on Sunday at Rabat’s Rive Hotel, with technical staff ready to welcome early visitors.
Nigeria will face Gabon on Thursday at Rabat’s Moulay Hassan Stadium, which has a capacity of 22,000.
Meanwhile, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo will compete in the other semi-final at El-Barid Stadium, with the winners facing off in the final on November 16 to determine who will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs for a position in the 2026 World Cup in North America.
