Super Eagles call off strike, resume training

Pius Ayinor

Super Eagles of Nigeria have agreed to resume training and play the match against Gabon on Thursday after a long day of meeting with the hierarchy of the Nigeria Football Federation. The team’s Media Officer, Promise Efoghe, announced via a WhatsApp message on Wednesday afternoon that the issues had been resolved between the players, coaches and backroom staff with the NFF.

His message he sent at 4.27pm reads, “Issues resolved. Super Eagles to train at 5p.”

A video clip from Rabat at 5.40pm showed the team training.

The NFF President Ibrahim Gusau left Nigeria for Morocco on Tuesday just as the  crisis broke out.

Nigeria’s preparations for Thursday’s 2026 World Cup playoff against Gabon suffered a major setback on Tuesday as the Super Eagles players and officials boycotted training in Rabat, Morocco, over unpaid allowances and bonuses. The entire squad, including backroom staff, refused to train on Tuesday due to long-standing financial grievances with the Nigeria Football Federation.

In a brief statement on Tuesday reported to have been jointly shared by players and officials, the team confirmed the development. Their joint statement read:

“The full squad including officials withheld from training today in Morocco because of the unresolved issues with outstanding payments. The Super Eagles are awaiting a quick resolution to continue preparations for Thursday’s game with Gabon.”

The sad development set off barely 48 hours two days before they face Gabon in the first semi-final of the World Cup Africa Playoff Tournament in Rabat.

The payment dispute has clearly cast a huge shadow over the team’s build-up.

By late Tuesday evening the Super Eagles had 23 players in camp with goalkeeper Maduka Okoye the only player still expected to arrive. The camp has all the players on ground now.