The Super Eagles of Nigeria returned to training on Wednesday evening as preparations intensify for Thursday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa playoff semi-final against Gabon.
The squad had suspended training on Tuesday over a dispute concerning unpaid allowances, but the matter has now been resolved, allowing the team to focus on securing a place in Sunday’s final. The session took place at the Institut Royal de Formation Des Cadres in Salé, just outside Rabat.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, expressed confidence in the team’s readiness.
“We believe in the players and their ability to make Nigeria proud, not only on Thursday, but throughout these playoffs. We have a team capable of earning a World Cup ticket,” he said.
NFF Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen, who previously coached the national team, also commented on the situation.
“These boys that I know, that I have worked with, want to go to the FIFA World Cup. The aspiration of every professional footballer is to play at the World Cup and enhance their market value. The timing of the strike was wrong. They might have had their reasons, but the timing was not the best. Having said that, I have faith in them to rise up to the occasion and do the business on Thursday, and afterwards, on Sunday,” he said.
Thursday’s match at the Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat marks the tenth meeting between Nigeria and Gabon at senior men’s level. Nigeria has won five of the previous nine encounters, with three drawn and a single Gabon victory in a 1990 World Cup qualifying match in Libreville.
Attention will focus on forwards Victor Osimhen and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who have led their respective teams in the qualification rounds, with Osimhen scoring five goals across fixtures against Rwanda and Benin Republic, while Aubameyang netted four goals in Gabon’s away match against Gambia.
Alex Iwobi, set to earn his 90th cap for Nigeria, led the Eagles during Wednesday’s session as the squad finalises its preparations for the high-stakes encounter.
Shameful
Meanwhile, Nigerians on social media expressed criticism and frustration after reports emerged that Nigeria’s Super Eagles players and officials had boycotted training in Morocco over unpaid allowances and bonuses, just two days ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff against Gabon.
Many Nigerians condemned the incident as yet another example of mismanagement in the country’s football administration, while others supported the players’ stand to withhold training until outstanding payments were settled.
On X (formerly Twitter), user @VerereIdjawe questioned the timing of the dispute: “We have an important playoff and we still have unresolved issues like this! When will things get better with our management?”
@Tobe_Betting highlighted the urgency of the matter, adding: “Super Eagles dey feel am! Payment wahala serious for Morocco camp. No be small thing when players boycott training. FIFA and NFF must settle dis fast before big World Cup playoff!”
