Nigeria’s preparations for Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal against Algeria in Marrakech were overshadowed by a dispute over unpaid bonuses, with reports emerging that several Super Eagles players threatened to boycott training and skip the trip to Morocco’s Red City.
Sources confirmed to ESPN that on Tuesday night, players informed officials that they would neither train nor board the team’s flight to Marrakech on Thursday until they received win bonuses owed for four matches at the tournament. The bonuses in question included group stage victories over Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda, as well as their 4-0 round of 16 triumph against Mozambique.
However, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau later confirmed to ESPN that the issue had been resolved. “The players were shown the documents that their payments had been processed, and they trained today, so there is no problem there,” Gusau stated.
Payment Delays Tied to Central Bank Procedures
The dispute reportedly arose due to delays in transferring funds through official banking channels. An official from Nigeria’s National Sports Commission, which oversees the NFF, explained that the payments had been processed via the Central Bank of Nigeria and would reach players’ individual accounts within seven days.
“The funds were delayed because the government is discouraging the transportation of cash, especially foreign currency, as it is currently against the law in Nigeria,” the official said. “But the payments have been processed through the Central Bank and will be available to the players in their accounts within seven days.”
Players were reportedly shown payment slips as proof, with the only outstanding payment being for the Mozambique match, which is expected to be cleared in the coming days.
Additional Bonuses Already Paid
The same source confirmed that other promised bonuses had already been disbursed. These included $5,000 per goal scored during the group stage and $10,000 per goal in the knockout rounds, funded by friends of the Sports Ministry, totaling $80,000.
The assurances appear to have quelled the immediate protest, with officials expressing confidence that the team will travel without further incidents before Saturday’s match.
A Recurring Issue for Nigerian Football
The threatened boycott is the latest episode in Nigeria’s ongoing struggles with player payment disputes. Most recently, the Super Eagles staged a similar protest ahead of their World Cup qualifying playoff against DR Congo, a match that ended in elimination for Nigeria on penalty kicks.
For years, payment-related boycotts have plagued Nigerian football, with players repeatedly forced to threaten strikes to secure bonuses they say are owed. This pattern highlights long-standing administrative and financial challenges within the NFF and the wider football governance structure in Nigeria.
Off-Field Tensions and On-Field Dominance
The bonus dispute comes amid other internal tensions in Morocco, including a reported on-field clash involving star striker Victor Osimhen and teammates Ademola Lookman and Bruno Onyemaechi, which saw Osimhen leave the field alone and head to the team bus.
Despite the off-field distractions, Nigeria have been one of the most impressive teams in the tournament. The Super Eagles won all three group stage matches and crushed Mozambique 4-0 in the round of 16, cementing their status as one of the favorites for the AFCON title.
Nigeria will face Algeria on Saturday in Marrakech, with a place in the semifinals at stake. If they can navigate the off-field turmoil and focus on the pitch, the Super Eagles have the talent and form to continue their strong run in Morocco.
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