With 24 hours to go before their playoff semi-final against Gabon in Rabat, the Nigerian national team is experiencing a chaotic preparation. Between a training boycott linked to unpaid bonuses and a controversy surrounding Alex Iwobi, the Super Eagles are seeing their composure shaken at a crucial moment in their journey towards the 2026 World Cup .

 

 

Having arrived in Morocco last weekend for a crucial week, the Nigerian Super Eagles hoped to use this training camp to regain cohesion, composure, and stability after a mixed qualifying campaign. Second in Group C behind South Africa, Finidi George's men must overcome Gabon to reach the playoff final, scheduled for Sunday, before aiming for a place in the intercontinental qualifiers.

 

But the studious atmosphere the staff had hoped for quickly shattered. On Monday, players and coaches refused to participate in the scheduled training session, protesting the non-payment of bonuses accumulated over several months. This recurring problem within Nigerian football has resurfaced once again at a critical time. Discussions have begun with the Federation to try to ease tensions and restore trust.

 

As if that weren't enough, another controversy has fueled the tension surrounding the national team. On Sunday, Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi posted a short video on Snapchat in which he appeared to be making light of the quality of the team's hotel in Rabat. The former Arsenal midfielder's flippant tone was deemed inappropriate by many Moroccan fans, who saw it as disrespectful to the host country.

 

Faced with mounting criticism, Iwobi attempted to quell the uproar the very next day, explaining that his video had been "misinterpreted" and that he had never intended to disparage his surroundings. "I'm comfortable, I'm playing Mario Kart. Let me focus on the match," he responded to calm the situation.

 

These successive episodes illustrate the structural difficulties that regularly plague the Nigerian national team. Despite a squad full of talented players competing in major European leagues, the Super Eagles struggle to establish the composure necessary to aim for continental and world championships.

 

Thursday's semi-final against Gabon at the Moulay Hassan Stadium will therefore be a true test of maturity. Nigeria will have to show that it is capable of overcoming internal turmoil and rediscovering the ambition that has long been its hallmark on the African stage.