The Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Augustine Eguavoen, has criticised the timing of the Super Eagles’ pay dispute, describing it as “wrong,” though he acknowledged the players’ grievances.
“The timing of the strike was wrong. They might have had their reasons, but the timing was not the best,” Eguavoen said.
The Super Eagles had boycotted training on Tuesday to demand payment of their outstanding bonuses, a move that briefly disrupted preparations ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff semi-final against Gabon.
The dispute has since been resolved, and the players returned to training on Wednesday night at the Institut Royal de Formation Des Cadres in Salé, just outside Rabat.
Despite the setback, Eguavoen expressed confidence that the team would rise to the challenge.
“I have faith in them to rise up to the occasion and do the business on Thursday, and afterwards, on Sunday,” he told thenff.com.
The Super Eagles will face the Gabonese Panthers in Rabat on Thursday, with kick-off scheduled for 5 p.m. Nigerian time.
About the Author
