As Nigerians heave and sigh over the prospect of the national football team, Super Eagles, making it through the narrow path of the playoff in Morocco to qualify for the biggest and most important sport competition on the planet, the FIFA World Cup, scheduled for 2026, a video posted by Alex Iwobi has ignited imagination and controversy about the suitability of the hotel accommodation the players are lodged in.

Following the video, Nigerians criticised the surroundings of the hotel, comparing them to police barracks in the West African country, which are infamous for being unhygienic and dilapidated, thereby placing the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) again at the centre of an unpleasant saga.

An official of the Super Eagles dismissed the social media complaints while also confirming to Peoples Gazette that the team is staying at the Rive Hotel. He noted that it is only the surrounding area of the facility that looks awful, prompting The Gazette to conduct a review of the hotel.

Rive prides itself as a modern 4-star hotel that makes the “very convenient location in the heart of Rabat’s vibrant Hassan district.” The hotel claims to provide the “business and leisure traveller a comfortable and lively base, placing guests within easy access to most of the city’s main attractions, administrative buildings, and nightlife.”

According to a statement on the hotel’s website, friendly service, together with a hearty breakfast and easy tram access, makes staying at Rive a good base for travelling within any city. “Solidly recommended to travellers that like being in the heart of a city with their restaurant and cafe choices at their doorstep,” said the statement.

According to hotels.com, Rive is a four-floor building, with rooms ranging from singles to suites that cost between $107 and $244 as of November 10, 2025. The facility has several amenities, including a lounge/bar, valet service, an ATM, a restaurant, and a gym.

The hotel, situated in close proximity to local markets, cafes, nightclubs, and government offices, also offers additional services, including a concierge, car rental, currency exchange, and a business centre. It has a favourable rating on hotels.com, with 6.2/10 “good” reviews from 81 verified reviewers. Many of them mainly praised the hotel for its comfort, cleanliness, and room service.

However, some complained about their time at the hotel, mostly due to noise coming from the facility’s nightclub, which prevented them from sleeping.

“My room was on the second floor at the front of the hotel. A nightclub which existed at the front of the hotel was open nearly every night until 4 or 5:00 a.m. Very noisy from 2:00 a.m. until 5:00 a.m. most nights,” one review said.

The reviewer added, “The hotel’s hot breakfast selection was cold on a few occasions and not heated!!! The location was good for central Rabat and getting around.”

In contrast, another reviewer enjoyed the nightclubs but noted that the hotel’s bathrooms required some finishing touches.

“The hotel was comfortable. The bathroom lacks final detail finishing. Very convenient and good service. Next to good entertainment clubs,” the review said.

Another person said their time at Rive was disappointing, stating, “Hotel rooms in need of updating. The smell of damp in the rooms. It was impossible to get to sleep in the room I was given on the second floor due to the music coming from the nightclub below, thump thump thump until 4:00 a.m. I asked to change rooms and was moved to the fourth floor, still directly above the nightclub.”

The reviewer added, “The noise was the same. Breakfast was average. Fresh orange juice incurred an extra charge, as did fried eggs. I also had to ask for hot water every morning for the tea. Why not just put it out? Overall, disappointing for the price, and I’ll avoid this hotel in the future if I can.”

Meanwhile, Iwobi has cleared the air about the clip in a follow-up video, stating that he was not complaining about the accommodation but only appreciating the view, adding that some people are not lucky enough to even have beds.

“Life is all about perspective. Because of the video, people are thinking this guy is ungrateful,” the player said. “I never said one thing; I just did one that looked like this. In this life, some people don’t have beds or yards, so I’m comfy.”