Super Eagles Captain Ekong Confirms Training Boycott

The skipper of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, William Troost-Ekong, has verified that the squad skipped their practice session on Tuesday because of unsettled allowances and bonuses.

Reports indicate that the athletes declined to participate in training in preparation for their vital FIFA World Cup qualifier play-off, demanding that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) settle their due payments beforehand.

Troost-Ekong posted on X on Tuesday to explain the matter, stating that the players were not presenting any new requests — simply seeking what was legitimately due to them.

He wrote, “Once resolution is found, we will be the first to confirm. Any other statement/claim or especially demands other than the rightful request written about below is FALSE. All we want and continue to do is focus on the big games ahead.”

The squad’s training camp formally began in Rabat, Morocco, on Monday in anticipation of Thursday’s important 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF qualifier versus Gabon.

By Tuesday afternoon, 23 players had already arrived at the camp — among them Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, and Ademola Lookman — with solely goalkeeper Maduka Okoye still to arrive.

The boycott, nevertheless, has triggered varied responses from supporters, with numerous criticizing the NFF for what they labeled as a “recurring embarrassment” within Nigerian football.

Up to this point, the NFF has not issued an official statement regarding the players’ demonstration or verifying when the allowances will be disbursed.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli