2025 AFCON: Super Eagles Threaten Boycott Over Bonus Dispute

Posted : 09 January 2026

Nigeria’s preparations for their AFCON quarter-final against Algeria suffered a setback as Super Eagles players threatened not to travel to Marrakech over unpaid bonuses.

The team, currently in Fès after winning all their group matches, demanded payment of their four-match win bonuses before resuming training or travelling for the game. Promise Efoghe, the Super Eagles Media Officer, had earlier confirmed that the team would depart Fès for Marrakech on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final.

Despite the dispute, the players said they remained focused on the Algeria encounter, though they insisted that no further team activities would take place until all entitlements were settled.

A source at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stated that the payment process had been initiated, with funds transferred from the Central Bank of Nigeria to the individual bank accounts of the players. The source added that players and officials would receive their bonuses once banking procedures were completed.

A similar situation occurred during the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoffs in Rabat, where unpaid allowances preceded Nigeria’s elimination on penalties against DR Congo.

In a related development, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, said all financial entitlements for Super Eagles players and officials had been resolved. His remarks followed reports of players threatening to boycott training and travel for Saturday’s match.

Dikko explained that President Bola Tinubu had approved the AFCON 2025 budget on November 14, 2025, aligning the NSC, NFF, and players. “Approving the money is one thing, processing it is another, but the players know the funds have been approved,” he said.

The NSC held meetings with the NFF, team captain, co-captain, and senior players to agree on tournament bonuses. “We sat down, negotiated, and agreed on what the players are entitled to up to the final. Everybody is clear,” Dikko said. He added that the players understood their incentives and accepted the terms before the tournament began.

“The only cash request was daily allowances, and that has been sorted and made available. The match bonuses have been approved, are currently being processed, and the money will come,” he assured. Dikko confirmed that the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria were working to ensure timely disbursement.

Nigeria is set to face Algeria’s Desert Foxes for a semi-final spot and is expected to depart Fès for Marrakech on Thursday ahead of the blockbuster encounter at Stade de Marrakech on Saturday at 5 p.m.

2025 AFCON: Super Eagles Threaten Boycott Over Bonus Dispute

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