By Kunle Solaja.

Nigeria’s preparations for Thursday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off against Gabon received a major boost on Wednesday after the players called off their brief strike and agreed to return to training.

Team captain William Troost-Ekong confirmed the resolution in a short but reassuring post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, writing:

“Issue RESOLVED. We are together and, as before, focused on the games ahead!”

The message effectively ended hours of uncertainty that had clouded the Super Eagles’ camp in Rabat, where the players had reportedly boycotted training over unpaid allowances and appearance fees.

According to sources close to the team, mediation efforts involving senior officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and representatives of the players led to a late-night breakthrough, clearing the air before Wednesday’s scheduled final training session.

With the impasse settled, the focus now shifts back to football as Nigeria prepare to face Gabon’s Panthers in a decisive play-off that could define their World Cup ambitions.

The return to training comes as a relief for both fans and officials, who had feared the disruption could derail Nigeria’s momentum and invite disciplinary scrutiny from FIFA or the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

While the details of the resolution remain undisclosed, Troost-Ekong’s statement signals a unified front within the squad — a positive turn as the Super Eagles seek to maintain composure and deliver on the pitch.

Kick-off for the Nigeria–Gabon match is scheduled for Thursday night at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, where all eyes will be on whether the truce off the field translates into triumph on it.

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By Kunle Solaja.

Nigeria’s preparations for Thursday’s crucial World Cup qualifying play-off against Gabon have been thrown into further uncertainty as the Super Eagles’ training boycott entered its second day.

Team captain William Troost-Ekong confirmed the ongoing impasse in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, assuring fans that the players remain focused on “the big games ahead” despite the standoff.

“Once a resolution is found, we will be the first to confirm,” he wrote. “Any other statement, claim or demand other than the rightful request written about below is FALSE.”

Efforts by Sports Village Square to obtain official comments from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have so far been unsuccessful, as the federation has remained silent on the issue.

However, a reliable source within the NFF told Sports Village Square that the protest may have been sparked internally.

According to the source, some players were informed that funds had recently been released to the NFF by the National Sports Commission (NSC), but were warned that it might become difficult to pursue their financial entitlements after the play-off.

“The players had initially planned to boycott the last Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda in November last year, which they eventually lost in Uyo,” the source revealed.

 “That action was only averted by the prompt intervention of NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, who flew into Uyo hours before the match.”

The source added that the outstanding payments include both long-standing claims dating back to 2019 and more recent entitlements.

Another insider in Rabat confirmed on Wednesday that the situation remains tense. If the Super Eagles fail to train again today, they risk losing the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the turf of the Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan, the venue for the decisive clash with Gabon.

There are growing fears that, if unresolved, the crisis could escalate into a full-blown boycott of the match — a move that could see Nigeria disqualified from the World Cup qualifiers and face possible FIFA sanctions.

Meanwhile, a contingent of Nigerian supporters was airlifted to Rabat via Casablanca on Tuesday, reportedly under the sponsorship of the NSC. Additional officials and supporters are expected to depart on Thursday morning, pending the approval of their Moroccan visas.

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Iraq and the United Arab Emirates will rekindle their World Cup ambitions this week when they clash in a two-legged Asian Confederation playoff that will determine who advances to the intercontinental play-off for the final berth at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The first leg takes place on Thursday in Abu Dhabi, with the return match scheduled for Basra, Iraq, four days later.

The aggregate winner will move on to the intercontinental playoff — the final hurdle to secure the 48th and last qualification slot for the expanded tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Both sides enter the tie still nursing the disappointment of missing automatic qualification. Iraq narrowly lost out to Saudi Arabia last month, denying them a return to the World Cup for the first time since their sole appearance in 1986.

The UAE, who last graced the global stage in 1990, saw their hopes dashed by Qatar in the earlier qualifying phase.

Iraq will rely heavily on the experience of coach Graham Arnold, the Australian tactician who guided his home nation through a similar play-off route to reach the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“We’re doing everything we possibly can for Iraq to make sure we qualify,” Arnold said while unveiling his squad last week. His team has been boosted by the return of talismanic striker Aymen Hussein from injury.

“I know a lot of fans and media were disappointed after the Saudi game, but I was proud of the players’ work ethic,” Arnold added. “Defensively we were excellent — we didn’t concede against Saudi Arabia or Indonesia — but we must improve in front of goal.”

Indeed, Iraq’s goal-scoring record remains a concern, with only two goals in four matches since Arnold took charge in May. The UAE, under Romanian coach Cosmin Olaroiu, have been slightly more productive, scoring four times in their last four fixtures after replacing Paulo Bento.

For both nations, the stakes could not be higher. Victory over the two legs will keep their World Cup dream alive — defeat will bring it to an end for another four years.

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