The Nigeria national football team, the Super Eagles, caused significant concern among fans after they boycotted a training session on Tuesday evening, November 11, 2025. The protest was staged over alleged unpaid bonuses and allowances owed to the players and staff.
Training Boycott Sparks Panic Before Crucial Match
The strike action occurred just two days before Nigeria's vital 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff match against Gabon, scheduled for Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco. This crucial game determines if the team advances in the World Cup qualifiers. Nigeria had secured this playoff spot by finishing second in their qualifying group with 17 points, behind group winners Burkina Faso who amassed 21 points.
According to reports from the BBC, the players' grievances were directed at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) concerning unpaid bonuses dating as far back as 2019. The protest ignited a firestorm on Nigerian social media, with fans divided between criticizing the NFF for its financial management and questioning the timing of the players' action.
Resolution and Conflicting Narratives
The tense standoff was eventually resolved following the intervention of the National Sports Commission (NSC), led by Shehu Dikko. An agreement was reached with the players at their hotel, allowing normal preparations to resume.
Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, later addressed the situation, dismissing any notions that the team was seeking special treatment. He clarified that their protest was solely about the unpaid bonuses that have been outstanding since 2019.
NFF Official Counters Captain's Claim
However, a top official from the Nigeria Football Federation has publicly disputed Captain Troost-Ekong's account. In a viral post on the social media platform X, the official stated that the players are only owed allowances from the recently concluded 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which ended in October 2025.
The official categorically denied that money has been owed since 2019 and assured that the players would receive their payments before the match against Gabon on Thursday, November 13. He was quoted as saying, "A high ranking officer in the NFF just told me that the players will get their money today. What they are owed is for the qualifiers for the World Cup and denies the story of monies owed from 2019."
Nigerian fans have expressed their reactions online, with many siding with the players and demanding transparency from the NFF.
- @im_Kappachino said: "We will wait for the Team captain to confirm any payment made abeg. Neither you nor NFF officials communication is going to be trusted."
- @WIZZ_POLL added: "Does NFF have evidence of paying everyone their due since 2019? Can they publish it? Will they commit to an auditor coming to review their finances. It should not be he said she said."
- @peaspal commented: "I know how important it is to clarify the duration of the backlog, but another pertinent question is, why should the team even be owed?"
The incident has cast a shadow over Nigeria's preparations for the must-win encounter against Gabon, raising familiar questions about financial management within the country's football administration.
