Nigeria’s Super Eagles have called off their training boycott after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) reportedly cleared all outstanding payments, just in time for Thursday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff semi-final against Gabon in Rabat, Morocco.
The players had earlier refused to train on Tuesday, November 11, in protest over unpaid bonuses and allowances, a move that threw their preparations for the high-stakes encounter into disarray.
However, calm has now returned to the camp following a resolution that ended growing concerns over possible internal disunity.
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong confirmed the development via a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“Issue RESOLVED. Outstanding financials cleared and on ground. Team is UNITED and focused as before on representing NIGERIA with our maximum for the games ahead! 🇳🇬 @NGSuperEagles.”
His announcement came less than 24 hours after he had publicly acknowledged the team’s decision to skip training due to “unresolved financial issues.”
That earlier statement was corroborated by multiple sources, including respected journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, who first reported the standoff.
NFF moves quickly to restore order
The swift resolution appears to have been driven by pressure from fans, media, and government officials who urged the federation to act promptly to avoid another international embarrassment. It’s been reported the NFF assured players that all outstanding entitlements had been settled, clearing the way for the squad to resume training on Wednesday.
The NFF is yet to release an official statement detailing the payments as at the time of writing this report.
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The development restores focus to football matters as Eric Chelle’s men aim to overcome Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Gabon on Thursday at the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex.
Winner of the match will move one step closer to securing a place in the 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The dispute had briefly sparked divisions, with team officials reportedly distancing themselves from the protest. Still, Troost-Ekong’s update suggests unity has been fully restored within the camp.
As Nigeria now look to put the controversy behind them, supporters will be hoping the off-field drama does not affect on-field performance.
Tags: Super Eagles boycott, #SoarSuperEagles, Super Eagles, Gabon, World Cup playoffs, William Troost-Ekong.
