Nigeria’s players have returned to their clubs following the October international break, but a report suggests all was not well within the Super Eagles camp during their time together, with grievances over unpaid bonuses and poor welfare arrangements reportedly simmering beneath the surface.
The Super Eagles opened their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win over Madagascar before suffering an embarrassing 3-0 defeat away to Guinea-Bissau, a result made worse by a poor pitch that drew complaints from both the players and head coach Eric Chelle.
According to a report by Sports Village Square, the squad are still waiting on their bonus from the third place playoff against Egypt at the 2027 AFCON finals, even though payments for the group stage matches that preceded it were settled on time.
Adding to the frustration, players are also said to be unhappy that their allowances for the Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau fixtures were quietly reduced without any explanation from the Nigeria Football Federation.
The complaints go further than outstanding payments. Players were reportedly unsettled by the state of the pitch in Guinea-Bissau, with a dressing room protest said to have taken place before kickoff, and there is also said to be dissatisfaction with what the squad views as inadequate travel logistics around the two qualifiers.
No player has publicly commented on the situation so far, but the pattern will feel familiar to Super Eagles followers. Unpaid bonuses have dogged the national team through recent tournament cycles, including a training boycott threat during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and a similar standoff ahead of a World Cup playoff against Gabon.
With the squad now dispersed back to their clubs, there is no immediate flashpoint forcing the NFF’s hand the way a tournament fixture would.
But if the outstanding Egypt bonus and the welfare concerns are not addressed before Nigeria reconvene for their next AFCON qualifiers, the federation risks another round of unrest overshadowing preparations, much as it has in the past.
