What You Need to Know
Nigerian players have threatened to boycott their upcoming AFCON quarterfinal match against Algeria due to delayed bonuses. This internal crisis has caused unrest among the team, with players and coaching staff expressing dissatisfaction over unpaid rewards from previous matches. The situation echoes past incidents of similar nature in Nigerian football.
Africa. Nigerian players have threatened not to travel to Marrakech on Thursday for their anticipated quarterfinal match against Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.
The threat comes as a protest against the delayed payment of player bonuses, an internal crisis that has recurred in previous tournaments, affecting the “Super Eagles” once again.
Reports indicate that discontent is spreading among Nigerian players and coaching staff, prompting them to threaten to boycott the trip unless their outstanding payments are settled.
Journalist Oluwashina Okediji, who previously worked with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), confirmed that bonuses for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have not yet been paid.
Okediji noted on the platform “X” that bonuses for victories in four matches against Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Mozambique remain unpaid.
He stated that the players have not held any training sessions recently while awaiting a resolution to the crisis.
Nigeria is set to face Algeria in the quarterfinals of the tournament in Marrakech on Saturday, following a strong performance in the group stage where they achieved a perfect record and secured a significant 4-0 victory over Mozambique in the Round of 16.
Previously, players also boycotted a training session before a match against Gabon, which took place in Morocco in November 2025, during the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
The issue of delayed payments and bonuses has been a recurring theme in Nigerian football, often leading to unrest among players. In previous tournaments, players have staged protests or threatened to withdraw from matches when financial commitments were not met. This ongoing struggle highlights the challenges faced by national teams in managing player welfare and financial transparency.
