Thursday, September 10, 2026

Morocco 2025: Super Eagles threatens to boycott training, travel ahead of Algeria game over unpaid bonuses

“Players and coaching staff of #Nigeria are waiting on #AFCON2025 bonus payments, “Mr Okeleji stated.

• January 7, 2026
Super Eagles Team B
Super Eagles TeamCredit: Punch Newspapers)

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have threatened to boycott training including scheduled travel to Marrakech for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal match against Algeria on Thursday over unpaid match bonuses. 

According to BBC journalist, Oluwashina Okeleji, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has yet to pay the players and coaching staff their win bonuses for the matches against Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Mozambique at the AFCON.

He noted that though they remain focused, the team had concluded that they would not train or honour the trip from Fes to Marrakech on Thursday for the match against Algeria on Saturday. 

“Players and coaching staff of #Nigeria are waiting on #AFCON2025 bonus payments. Win bonuses from four matches – vs Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda & Mozambique – have yet to be received,” Mr Okeleji said in a social media post on Wednesday. 

“The squad remains focused but will NOT train or travel to Marrakech on Thursday if this isn’t resolved.”

Contacted by the Peoples Gazette for comment on the development, Super Eagles’ media officer, Promise Efoghe, said “Only the man who posted can comment on what he posted,” referring to Mr Okeleji, who broke the news. 

This came barely two months after the team boycotted their training session ahead of the game against Gabon during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Playoffs Tournament in Morocco in November 2025 over payment dispute with the NFF. 

The Eagles returned to training the following day, with now-retired captain William Troost-Ekong announcing in a statement on social media that ‘outstanding financials’ cleared by the federation

It is the latest distraction to rock the Eagles’ camp ahead of the clash with Algeria following the on-field bust-up between Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman during the match against Mozambique on Tuesday, a matter which the federation said had been resolved internally. 

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Mr Olusegun Omosehin, Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of NAICOM

Economy

NAICOM, NCAA partner to strengthen air travellers’ protection

The National Insurance Commission and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority have signed an MOU to improve compliance and risk protection in the aviation sector.

Ahmed Aliyu

Education

ASUU gives Sokoto govt two-week ultimatum, threatens strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Sokoto State University chapter, has given the Sokoto government a two-week ultimatum to implement the signed agreements.

Philippines ferry fire

World

Five people killed, 87 missing in Philippines ferry fire

At least five people were killed and 87 others missing after a fire broke out on a passenger ferry in the Philippines on Wednesday.

Politics

Police, ALGON, JMI re-strategise to tackle security threats in Sokoto

The police, ALGON, and Justice Mission International have partnered to tackle security challenges and ensure peaceful conduct of the 2027 elections in Sokoto.

Poultry market

Agriculture

Poultry industry fastest pathway to food security, job creation in Nigeria: PAN

PAN says the poultry industry remains one of the fastest pathways to food security, job creation, and wealth generation.

Daimler trucks

Economy

Daimler Truck to invest hundreds of millions in hydrogen trucks

Daimler Truck plans to invest several hundred million euros in hydrogen-powered trucks by the end of the decade.