According to veteran BBC and Al Jazeera journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, the squad has reached a breaking point over a mountain of unpaid bonuses. The players have made it clear: they will not train and, more importantly, will not board the flight to Marrakech scheduled for Thursday unless the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) clears their outstanding debts.
The Breaking Point: What Is Owed?
The dispute centers on unpaid winning bonuses from four consecutive matches in the current tournament. Despite a flawless run that has seen the Super Eagles become favorites for the trophy, the players are reportedly still waiting for payments from their victories against:
• Tanzania (Group Stage)
• Tunisia (Group Stage)
• Uganda (Group Stage)
• Mozambique (Round of 16)
Okeleji took to X (formerly Twitter) to break the news, stating:
"Players and coaching staff of #Nigeria are waiting on #AFCON2025 bonus payments... Squad remain focus but will NOT train or travel to Marrakech on Thursday if this isn't resolved."
A Pattern of Crisis
This isn't the first time the 2026 campaign has been rocked by financial scandal. Just two months ago, in November 2025, the team staged a similar boycott in Rabat ahead of their World Cup qualifying play-off against Gabon. While that issue was eventually "resolved" by the National Sports Commission, the recurring nature of these disputes has left the players "tired of empty promises."
Chaos in Camp: Osimhen and Lookman Drama
The timing could not be worse. The camp was already under scrutiny following a visible on-field "bust-up" between superstars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman during the 4-0 demolition of Mozambique on Tuesday. While the NFF insists that the rift between the two strikers has been "nipped internally," this new financial mutiny suggests a much deeper crisis within the Nigerian camp.
The Road Ahead
The Quarter-final showdown against Algeria—a rematch of the 2019 semi-final—is currently slated for Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Stade de Marrakech.
As of Wednesday evening, the NFF has yet to release an official statement, but sources suggest frantic high-level meetings are ongoing to prevent an embarrassing exit from the tournament.