Nigeria’s pursuit of a fourth continental title has been plunged into uncertainty as players and technical staff of the Super Eagles threatened to boycott training and travel plans ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 quarterfinal against Algeria.
The squad, currently based in Fez, informed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday that they would not proceed to Marrakech for Saturday’s high-stakes knockout match unless outstanding financial obligations are settled. The dispute centres on unpaid winning bonuses for all four matches played in the tournament so far, including group-stage victories over Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda, as well as their recent 4–0 thrashing of Mozambique in the Round of 16.
Veteran BBC journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, who has closely monitored the team’s camp, confirmed the squad’s firm stance via social media. He noted that while the players remain professionally focused on the tournament, they have collectively decided not to train or travel on Thursday if the matter remains unresolved. This ultimatum has reignited concerns over the recurring administrative friction that has long shadowed Nigerian football.
This latest development mirrors a similar crisis that unfolded in November 2025. During that episode, the team boycotted training in Rabat just 48 hours before a critical 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff against Gabon. While that standoff was eventually defused following intervention by the National Sports Commission, the distraction was widely blamed for the team’s subsequent failure to secure a World Cup ticket.
For a team that has been unbeaten and dominant on the pitch, the greatest threat to their AFCON ambition now appears to be the logistical and financial hurdles originating from within their own administration.
