Nigeria’s preparations for their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash against Algeria have been disrupted after players and coaching staff boycotted training over unpaid winning bonuses.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to travel to Marrakesh on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final showdown against the Desert Foxes at the Ouahat Sidi Brahim Stadium on January 10, 2026.
The highly anticipated encounter promises to be a fierce contest, with both sides chasing a place in the semi-finals of the tournament currently underway in Morocco. However, Nigeria’s build-up has suffered a major setback due to unresolved financial issues.
As a sign of protest, players and officials refused to train on Wednesday, expressing dissatisfaction over unpaid bonuses accumulated during the tournament. Sources indicate the boycott could continue until the matter is resolved.
The disruption comes despite Nigeria’s impressive form at the competition. The Super Eagles finished the group stage with a perfect record before hammering Mozambique 4–0 in the round of 16.
Bonus-related disputes are not unfamiliar in Nigerian football. A similar situation occurred ahead of the World Cup playoff in Morocco in November 2025, when the team also boycotted training over unpaid allowances.
Although that issue was eventually resolved, Nigeria went on to lose the playoff final to DR Congo, consigning the Super Eagles to an intercontinental playoff scheduled for March 2026.
With Algeria looming, Nigeria’s focus will be on resolving the off-field issues swiftly to avoid further disruption to their AFCON title ambitions.
