OGUN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Super Eagles have finally returned to the training pitch in Fès following a tense standoff with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over unpaid bonuses.
The squad had reportedly threatened to boycott Wednesday’s training session and delay their travel to Marrakesh for Saturday’s AFCON 2025 quarter-final against Algeria.
The dispute involves outstanding “win bonuses” for their four consecutive victories against Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Mozambique.
Veteran sports journalist Oluwashina Okeleji reported on X that players and coaching staff were waiting on bonus payments for four matches at the tournament.
“Players and coaching staff of Nigeria are waiting on AFCON2025 bonus payments,” Okeleji wrote.
“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.”
Several officials declined to comment, while the team’s media officer, Promise Efoghe, and NFF president Ibrahim Gusau both said they were unaware of the situation.
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Hours after the initial report, journalist Tobi Adepoju provided an update suggesting the federation was moving to resolve the issue.
“I just spoke with a top NFF official about the potential players’ and officials’ strike,” Adepoju wrote on X.
Quoting the official, he added, “The monies have been processed from CBN to individual banks. The players and officials will receive all their bonuses when the process is completed.”
Later in the day, Adepoju confirmed that the players had taken to the training pitch despite the earlier uncertainty.
“Super Eagles players just finished their training session in Fez. Today’s training session was held amidst the report about a potential strike,” he posted.
Reports earlier confirmed that the players’ stance was largely reactionary and intended as a warning ahead of the planned training session, which they eventually attended, while also signalling the possibility of missing their scheduled flight to Marrakesh on Thursday.
The episode has revived memories of a similar incident in November, when the Super Eagles boycotted training in Rabat just two days before a crucial 2026 World Cup play-off against Gabon over unpaid bonuses and allowances, some dating back to 2019.
Nigeria are set to face Algeria’s Desert Foxes in the quarter-finals on Saturday, with attention now turning to whether the off-field concerns have been fully resolved as the tournament reaches its decisive stage.