Super Eagles Players Boycott Training Over Unpaid Wages
The Nigeria Football Federation technical director Augustine Eguavoen has expressed strong disapproval of the Super Eagles players' decision to boycott training in Morocco on Tuesday. The protest was staged over several years of unpaid bonuses owed to the national team players.
The players refused to leave their hotel in a dramatic show of protest against the Nigeria Football Federation, forcing immediate intervention from both the NFF and the National Sports Commission. The standoff occurred just days before Nigeria's crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gabon.
Resolution Reached After Tense Negotiations
According to reports from BBC, the players' protest centered on outstanding bonuses that had accumulated over several years. The situation gained attention across Nigeria, with many citizens supporting the players against the football federation, whose reputation has suffered recently due to allegations of financial mismanagement.
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong confirmed through his official X account that the team had reached a resolution with the Nigeria Football Federation by Wednesday evening. The resolution allowed the team to return to training at Institut Royal de Formation Des Cadres in Salé for their final session before the important match.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau was reportedly at the forefront of negotiations with the players' representatives and expressed confidence in the team's ability to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite the disruption.
Eguavoen Questions Timing of Protest
While acknowledging the players' grievances, Eguavoen emphasized that the timing of their protest was inappropriate. "The timing of the strike was wrong. They might have had their reasons, but the timing was not the best," Eguavoen told The NFF.
The technical director recognized the players' aspirations to participate in the FIFA World Cup, noting that "the aspiration of every professional footballer is to play at the World Cup and enhance their market value."
Despite his criticism of their protest timing, Eguavoen expressed confidence that the incident would not affect the players' performance. "Having said that, I have faith in them to rise up to the occasion and do the business on Thursday, and afterwards, on Sunday," he added.
The protest received mixed reactions from Nigerian football fans. While many supported the players' demand for their rightful earnings, others expressed concern about the timing ahead of a critical World Cup qualifying match that could determine Nigeria's chances of reaching the global tournament.
