Super Eagles Return to Training Camp After Resolving Financial Dispute
The Nigerian national football team has resumed full training activities in Morocco following the successful resolution of a bonus payment dispute that had threatened their preparation for the crucial World Cup qualifying playoff.
Captain William Troost-Ekong confirmed the positive development through his social media channels on Wednesday, announcing that all outstanding financial matters with the Nigeria Football Federation had been cleared.
Team Unity Restored After Temporary Boycott
The Super Eagles had temporarily boycotted their training session on Tuesday as players protested unpaid entitlements and bonuses owed by the football governing body. This action raised significant concerns about Nigeria's readiness for the must-win encounter against Gabon.
According to reports from the team camp, negotiations involving the players, NFF officials, and the National Sports Commission resulted in a compromise agreement that allowed training to resume on Thursday evening. While specific details of the settlement remain confidential, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau assured that all financial issues had been properly addressed.
The timing of the dispute had created serious concerns as it threatened to leave the Nigerian squad with only one full training session before facing Gabon, a team led by experienced forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Focus Shifts to Crucial World Cup Playoff
With the financial matters now settled, the Super Eagles can fully concentrate on their tactical preparations and fitness ahead of Thursday's decisive match. The team will face Gabon at the Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat, with kickoff scheduled for 5 PM local time.
This CAF World Cup playoff semi-final represents a critical step in Nigeria's quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The victorious team will advance to face either DR Congo or Cameroon in the playoff final, with the ultimate winner progressing to the Intercontinental playoffs where six teams will compete for two available World Cup spots.
The resolution comes as a major relief to Nigerian football supporters and stakeholders who had feared the bonus dispute might negatively impact the team's performance in this crucial qualifying match.
Meanwhile, Gabon's national team had earlier made light of Nigeria's internal issues, posting training content on social media while the Super Eagles were engaged in negotiations with football authorities.
