Nigeria’s Super Eagles were pushed to the brink of another off-field crisis at AFCON 2025, as unpaid bonuses triggered boycott threats just days before a blockbuster quarter-final against Algeria. Here is the full story, broken down clearly:

1. Boycott Threat Rocks Super Eagles Camp

Nigeria’s players and coaching staff recently threatened to boycott their AFCON quarter-final clash with Algeria unless all outstanding bonuses were paid. The team warned they would refuse to travel from their base in Fes to the match venue in Marrakech and would suspend all training activities until the issue was resolved.

2. Unpaid Bonuses at the Heart of the Dispute

The standoff centred on unpaid winning bonuses from all four matches played so far in the tournament—victories over Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Mozambique. Reports indicate that each player was owed close to £32,000 (around $42,500), covering group-stage matches and the round-of-16 win.

3. A Familiar and Costly Disruption

This episode follows a troubling pattern. Just two months earlier, the Super Eagles staged a similar protest during World Cup qualifiers over unpaid allowances. That distraction was widely cited as a key factor in Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup after losing to DR Congo.

4. A Longstanding Pattern in Nigerian Football

Financial disputes have become a recurring issue in Nigerian football, with players often feeling compelled to “down tools” before agreements are honoured. Senior players insist these protests go beyond money, stressing the need for administrative accountability and better structures for future generations.

5. Federal Government Steps In

Following the latest threat, Nigeria’s Federal Government intervened on Thursday. The Minister of State for Finance confirmed that the payments had cleared all regulatory processes and assured the public that funds were being transferred directly into the players’ domiciliary accounts to prevent further delays.

6. Travel Finally Resumes

After initial resistance, the squad completed the five-hour journey from Fes to Marrakech. The trip went ahead once players received official assurances that the payments would reflect in their bank accounts by Friday.

7. Focus Returns to the Pitch

The Super Eagles resumed training on Thursday evening and appear to have shifted their focus back to football. Nigeria currently holds the best attacking record at AFCON 2025 with 12 goals, underlining how crucial it was to resolve the crisis swiftly.

8. High-Stakes Quarter-Final vs Algeria

Saturday’s encounter against Algeria is a highly anticipated rematch of the 2019 AFCON semi-final and will kick off at 4pm GMT. While the immediate bonus issue appears settled, pressure remains on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to avoid further financial distractions should the team advance to the semi-finals.