Super Eagles, NFF Close to Settlement in Unpaid Bonuses Dispute Ahead of Gabon Playoff

Super Eagles, NFF Close to Settlement in Unpaid Bonuses Dispute Ahead of Gabon Playoff

By Admin 

Negotiations between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Super Eagles are nearing resolution after a tense standoff over unpaid bonuses and allowances that led to the players’ boycott of training sessions in Rabat, Morocco, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The dispute erupted just days before Thursday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff against Gabon.

According to reports from Punch, Sahara Reporters, and the BBC’s Oluwashina Okeleji, the Super Eagles players and technical crew halted training to protest outstanding payments dating as far back as 2019. The arrears reportedly include unpaid bonuses from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers and the ongoing World Cup playoff campaign.

 “We are tired of empty promises,” one player told the BBC, expressing deep frustration over what many see as the federation’s chronic neglect of its contractual obligations.

The impasse has drawn widespread criticism of the NFF’s financial management, particularly amid growing public scrutiny of the federation’s handling of player welfare across national teams.

Wider Concerns Over NFF’s Financial Practices

The controversy follows reports that Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team received only ₦100,000 in total allowances, wages, and bonuses after their recent World Cup campaign. Sports analyst C. Mobike alleged that the players were forced to cover personal expenses, including travel, kits, and medical costs claims that have intensified outrage over the NFF’s treatment of athletes representing the country.

Similarly, the U-17 men’s team reportedly earned just ₦15,000 in additional bonuses, underscoring what critics describe as systemic welfare failures within Nigerian football.

Negotiations and Sticking Points

While some fans have condemned the timing of the Super Eagles’ protest, others have defended the players, calling their demands legitimate and the situation “an avoidable embarrassment” for Nigerian football authorities.

 Reports have it that both sides are now close to an agreement, with discussions focusing on a potential “special bonus” package. However, the BBC’s Okeleji cautioned that a similar proposal made by the NFF more than a month ago failed to materialize, reflecting a history of unfulfilled promises.

Further updates from Tobi Adepoju of OgaNlaMedia suggest that the players are demanding $30,000 per win, while the NFF has offered to retain the standard $10,000 per win payment, alongside performance-based incentives $30,000 per goal against Gabon and $50,000 per goal in the final playoff. 

The players have reportedly rejected this offer.

Head coach Eric Chelle and some team officials are said to be against the boycott, with a few players showing willingness to return to training as talks progress.

Pressure Mounts Ahead of Decisive Match

With the World Cup playoff looming, both the NFF and the Super Eagles face mounting pressure to reach a resolution and shift focus back to the pitch. Negotiations are expected to continue through Wednesday as officials race to restore calm and confidence within the national team camp.