Nigeria players end strike after resolving issue of unpaid bonuses with federation

 Nigeria's William Troost-Ekong with teammates during training
Nigeria's William Troost-Ekong with teammates during trainingSodiq Adelakun / Reuters

Nigeria’s players are fully focused on their 2026 FIFA World Cup African Qualifier playoff against Gabon on Thursday after the resolution of a dispute over bonuses that led to a boycott of training, according to captain William Troost-Ekong.

Players did not train on Tuesday in protest over unpaid bonuses that media reports suggested go back to 2019.

But Troost-Ekong confirmed the matter has reached a resolution with the Nigeria Football Federation, at least for now.

"Issue resolved. Outstanding financials cleared and (we are) on ground. Team is UNITED and focussed (sic) as before on representing Nigeria with our maximum for the games ahead!" Troost-Ekong said in a post on X on Wednesday, without giving any more details.

The federation did not respond to requests for comment.

Nigeria face Gabon in their semi-final of the African Qualifier playoffs in the Moroccan city of Rabat, hoping to book a place in Sunday’s final against either Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The winner of the African Qualifiers play-off will advance to March’s inter-continental play-offs, where two more nations will be added to the 48-team field for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.