Nigeria's Super Eagles boycott training before World Cup play-off

Nigeria players and technical bench boycotted training in Tuesday to protest over unpaid allowances and bonuses days before playing in 2026 Fifa World Cup play-off against Gabon in Morocco.

The team’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, confirmed the boycott in a post on social media on Tuesday.

He said the team was waiting for a resolution on their unpaid allowances and bonuses owed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“Once resolution is found, we will be the first to confirm. Any other statement/claim or especially demands other than the rightful request written about below is FALSE,” he wrote.

“All we want and continue to do is focus on the big games ahead,” he added.

He clarified that the players had not made any additional demands beyond asking for the settlement of their outstanding entitlements.

The Super Eagles’ training camp officially opened in Rabat on Monday, ahead of Thursday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF qualifier against Gabon.

According to the official X handle of the Super Eagles team, 23 players were already in camp as of Tuesday afternoon, with only goalkeeper Maduka Okoye yet to join the team.

Nigeria face Gabon and Cameroon meet the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday in Rabat in the semi-finals of an African play-offs series for the global showpiece.

The winners clash on Sunday, also in the Moroccan capital, with a place in inter-continental play-offs next March on the line.

Whoever represents Africa will be joined by two teams from Central America/Caribbean region plus Bolivia, New Caledonia and Iraq or UAE with two World Cup slots up for grabs.