News emerged on Tuesday that Eric Chelle’s men boycotted training in Rabat due to ongoing disputes with the Nigeria Football Federation over unpaid bonuses.
Despite interventions from top officials of the National Sports Commission and the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, the players have remained resolute, refusing to return until their demands are fully met by the nation’s football authorities.
The deadlock has stirred concern among fans and stakeholders, as the three-time African champions face the daunting task of securing victory in a make-or-break clash against the Panthers, a side that narrowly missed out on an automatic ticket to reigning African champions, Cote d’Ivoire.
At the time of filing this report, Flashscore reached out to several members of the NFF, all of whom declined to comment on the unfolding crisis. However, sources indicate that efforts are being intensified behind the scenes to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
If captain William Troost-Ekong’s tweet is any indication, the Super Eagles may not honour Thursday evening’s fixture at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat. In his post, he noted that the players would provide an update once a resolution has been reached.
“Once a 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,” Troost-Ekong wrote, quoting a tweet from journalist Oluwashina Okeleji.
Prior to that, the squad issued a statement hoping for a rapid resolution to the show of shame: "The full squad, including officials, withheld from training today in Morocco because of unresolved issues with outstanding payments.
“The Super Eagles are awaiting a quick resolution to continue their preparations for Thursday’s game against Gabon. Thank you. From the players.”
For context, a bonus dispute is nothing new in Nigerian football. Over the years, Super Eagles players have been constantly involved in similar standoffs with the Nigeria Football Federation over unpaid entitlements.
On the other hand, the Gabonese national team remains unfazed by the turmoil in the Nigerian camp and has intensified their preparations.
While coach Thierry Mouyouma acknowledges Chelle’s side as the favourites, he insists that his team will approach the game with confidence and without fear.
“We know that Nigeria, a great African nation, are the favourites, and our status as an outsider suits us very well,” Mouyouma told Afrik Foot.
“Nigeria will have more pressure, which makes sense. But if we respect this team for everything they represent, we don’t fear it.
“We know the value of its workforce, the dangers that are Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. And I think Nigeria knows us very well.
“We know that to play in the World Cup, you will have to beat the Super Eagles, then DR Congo or Cameroon, and one or two teams in March.
“It is a long journey. We knew it, but these games will advance the team and the technical staff.
“There are big stakes, and emotionally, I prefer that we play games like the one on November 13, like those of the AFCON, than friendly matches.”
Based on history, Nigeria are clear favourites to emerge victorious, given their impressive head-to-head record and FIFA rankings.
However, the Panthers, led by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, remain a formidable side, unbeaten in their last seven matches across all competitions. Their most recent defeat came on November 15, 2025, when they suffered a 5-1 loss to 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Morocco.
