Super Eagles’ preparations for their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Algeria were thrown into fresh turmoil this week, Soccernet.ng reports.
The ugly development arose after Super Eagles players threatened to boycott training and refuse to travel to Marrakech over unpaid match bonuses. This is a brewing dispute that once again exposed the country’s long-running administrative failures in football management.
The crisis, which erupted in Fez on Tuesday night, cast a shadow over what has otherwise been Nigeria’s most impressive AFCON campaign in more than a decade.
The Super Eagles have won all their matches at the tournament, including a dominant 4-0 demolition of Mozambique in the last 16, and are widely regarded as one of the favourites for the title.
But by Wednesday morning, focus had shifted from tactics and team shape to bank alerts, payment slips, and urgent meetings behind closed doors.
What is the Super Eagles’ protest about, how and when did it start?
The protest began late on Tuesday when players informed team officials that they would not train and would not board Thursday’s flight to Marrakech unless outstanding bonuses were paid.
Sources confirmed that the players were owed win bonuses for four matches at the tournament: group-stage victories over Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda, as well as the round-of-16 win over Mozambique.
The issue first became public after BBC journalist Oluwashina Okeleji broke the story.
Players and coaching staff of #Nigeria are waiting on #AFCON2025 bonus payments.
Win bonuses from four matches – vs Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda & Mozambique – have yet to be received.
Squad remain focus but will NOT train or travel to Marrakech on Thursday if this isn’t resolved. pic.twitter.com/sCuln7Fpzn
— Olúwashínà Okeleji (@oluwashina) January 7, 2026
Veteran reporter Okeleji wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“Players and coaching staff of Nigeria are waiting on AFCON2025 bonus payments.
Win bonuses from four matches vs Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Mozambique have yet to be received. Squad remain focus but will not train or travel to Marrakech on Thursday if this isn’t resolved.“Officials made a promise to the players and coaching staff ahead of the AFCON2025 tournament.”
By Wednesday morning, tension had spread through the camp in Fez. Although Nigeria were scheduled to train before travelling to Marrakech, players and officials made it clear the situation could escalate into a full-blown strike.
Soccernet.ng later gathered that the players’ stance was intended as a warning, but also that they were prepared to follow through if nothing changed.
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What has been the NFF’s response?
By Wednesday afternoon, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Ibrahim Musa Gusau moved to calm the situation.
Gusau told ESPN: “The players were shown the documents that their payments had been processed, and they trained today, so there is no problem there.”
Copyright: IMAGOxAdekunlexAjayix
Behind the scenes, officials from the National Sports Commission (NSC), which oversees the NFF, were also working to contain the fallout.
An NSC official revealed that payments had been routed through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and would reach players’ accounts within seven days.
“The funds were delayed because government is discouraging the transportation of cash, especially foreign currency, as it is currently against the law in Nigeria.
“But the payments have been processed through the Central Bank and will be available to the players in their individual accounts within seven days.”
The same source confirmed that players had been shown payment slips as proof and that the only outstanding payment, for the Mozambique match, would also be processed within days.
They also revealed that additional privately funded bonuses had already been paid, $5,000 per goal in the group stage, $10,000 per goal in the knockout rounds. Those payments totalled $80,000.
How has the player reacted to NFF’s move?
While players declined to speak publicly, their actions suggested a cautious acceptance of the assurances.
Later on Wednesday, journalist Tobi Adepoju reported that the team had returned to the training pitch.
“Super Eagles players just finished their training session in Fez. Today’s training session was held amidst the report about a potential strike.”
Soccernet.ng confirmed that the players eventually trained, though the situation remained delicate, with travel plans still in question at that point.
UPDATE FROM MOROCCO:
I just spoke with a top NFF official about the potential players’ and officials’ strike.
NFF official;
“The monies have been processed from CBN to individual banks. The players and officials will receive all their bonuses when the process is completed.”… https://t.co/15aqP07Z6H pic.twitter.com/693oru0Cov— Adepoju Tobi Samuel (@OgaNlaMedia) January 7, 2026
What is the latest update provided by the NSC?
By Thursday morning, the Nigerian government moved to close the matter publicly.
NSC chairman Shehu Dikko told Channels Television’s The Morning Brief that the crisis had been resolved and the team would travel to Marrakech.
“First and foremost, I tell you, the team trained yesterday, definitely. The team will be traveling today, definitely.”
Dikko explained that the delay was caused by bureaucratic processes, despite presidential approval being granted months earlier.
“Let me give you the timelines of how the issues work. First and foremost, I must tell you that Mr. President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, duly approved the special budget for the AFCON as far back as November 14, 2025.
“But approving the money is different from getting the money out. It takes time for the money to be processed through Finance, the Office of the Accountant General, and the CBN.”
He added that players had already received their daily allowances in cash:
“It’s normal for players to ask when alerts will come. But I don’t think any player made any public statement. It started from speculation.
The players will start getting alerts maybe today or tomorrow for the first-round matches, and as they progress, payments for subsequent stages will follow.”
What are the stakeholders saying?
The controversy, however, has drawn sharp criticism from across Nigeria.
Former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi described the situation as a national disgrace.
In a statement on X, he wrote:
“At a time when Nigerians need joy and unity – something the Super Eagles have been providing by winning matches and lifting our spirits worldwide – these same players are being denied their basic match allowances.
“A country that writes off trillions in debts and squanders money on grandiose projects now struggles to pay basic match bonuses owed to our players.
“The Super Eagles do not deserve this embarrassment or the avoidable distractions ahead of a crucial quarter-final match. Nigeria must learn to fulfil its obligations.”
When will the NFF save Nigeria from this unending embarrassments?
For many Nigerians, this episode feels painfully familiar.
The Super Eagles have repeatedly been forced to threaten boycotts, most recently before a World Cup playoff against DR Congo, which they eventually lost on penalties.
This latest crisis comes despite Nigeria’s superb form in Morocco and even follows an unrelated on-field incident involving Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Bruno Onyemaechi.
Yet, once again, administrative chaos has overshadowed footballing excellence.
Nigeria now face Algeria on Saturday in Marrakech, in a rematch of the 2019 semi-final decided by Riyad Mahrez’s famous free-kick.
Whether this episode truly ends here, or merely pauses until the next tournament, remains an open and troubling question.