Former Labour Party presidential hopeful Peter Obi on Wednesday condemned Nigeria’s government for neglecting the Super Eagles’ unpaid bonuses amid a training boycott that threatens the team’s World Cup playoff preparations, decrying a system that lavishes funds on “needless” extravagance while shortchanging national heroes.
The standoff, now in its second day at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Complex, saw players and technical staff refuse drills ahead of Thursday’s semifinal against Gabon, locking horns with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over a disputed $30,000 win bonus per player for the two-legged tie — up from the current $10,000 per match.
Obi, leveraging his X platform to millions, lambasted the fiscal priorities, writing: “It is truly unfortunate that our Super Eagles, who consistently give their best in representing our dear nation, are being owed their allowances. We always seem to find money to waste on needless lavish spending and political patronage, yet we cannot pay those who patriotically raise our flag, bring us pride, and serve with dedication. That is what is found in a ‘now disgraced country.'”
He hammered home the morale blow, adding: “When those who serve their country are not treated with dignity, it sends the wrong message to our youths that hard work and service are not rewarded. Those who represent Nigeria deserve to be paid promptly and treated with respect. We must do better.”
The impasse traces to a 2023 hike under ex-NFF president Amaju Pinnick, doubling incentives from $5,000 to $10,000 per victory, but players now demand parity with rivals like Cameroon and Gabon, who have inflated payouts amid soaring living costs.
Daily allowances, pledged by the NFF, are not the flashpoint; the rift centres on match-specific rewards, with athletes vowing no pitch time — or even the Gabon clash — until a deal seals, potentially torpedoing Nigeria’s path to Sunday’s final against the Democratic Republic of Congo or Cameroon.
As Victor Osimhen and Wilfred Ndidi stew in limbo, the boycott amplifies cries of mismanagement in a federation flush with FIFA cash yet plagued by arrears, echoing past walkouts that scarred the three-time African champions’ campaigns. With a 2026 World Cup spot dangling, Obi’s plea underscores a broader call for accountability, where national pride shouldn’t hinge on unsettled IOUs.
