By Kunle Solaja

The Super Eagles may have returned to training after calling off their strike on the eve of Thursday’s World Cup play-off against Gabon in Rabat — but history suggests that the damage may already have been done.

In the past four decades, every instance of a player revolt or strike in the Nigerian national team, particularly over financial disputes, has been followed by a costly defeat — often one that ended the nation’s World Cup hopes.

There are four notable precedents spread over 41 years, all linked to World Cup campaigns.

The first came in October 1981, when Nigeria, needing a win against Algeria to qualify for the 1982 World Cup in Spain, suffered internal unrest over bonus payments.

Foreign-based players like Tunji Banjo, Thompson Usiyen, Chris Nwokocha,andAndrew Atuegbu had been promised ₦5,000 each — a considerable sum at a time when the naira was stronger than the dollar.

Home-based players revolted, demanding equal pay. The row disrupted team harmony, and Nigeria lost 2–0 in Lagos, before falling 4–1 on aggregate in Constantine.

A similar crisis erupted ahead of a crucial qualifier in 1989 for the Italia ’90 World Cup. The Super Eagles, lodged at the Durbar Hotel (now Golden Tulip) in Lagos, refused to leave for Yaoundé to face Cameroon, demanding that their bonuses be settled first.

A flight scheduled to depart at 10 a.m. did not take off until 4 p.m. — and Nigeria went on to lose 1–0, crashing out of contention for Italia ’90.

The same pattern repeated itself at the France ’98 World Cup, where the Eagles threatened to boycott their Round of 16 match against Denmark over unpaid allowances. Negotiations stretched into the early hours of match day, leaving the team disorganized and distracted. The result: a 4–1 defeat that ended Nigeria’s campaign.

Sixteen years later, at Brazil 2014, both Nigeria and Ghana made headlines for similar bonus disputes. Nigeria’s players boycotted training ahead of their Round of 16 clash with France, forcing the government to fly in a plane load of cash to settle payments.
Despite the intervention, the Super Eagles lost 2–0, exiting the tournament.

Now, as Nigeria prepares to face Gabon in Thursday’s crucial World Cup qualifying play-off, memories of those past disruptions linger — and the question remains: Will history repeat itself?

Tale of the Tape: Nigeria’s Bonus Rows and World Cup Fallout

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Cameroon have been hit by two major injury blows, and face a possible third ahead of Thursday’s World Cup playoff against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Veteran striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and in-form midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa have been ruled out of the match in Rabat, where Cameroon are looking to keep alive their World Cup hopes.

 Serie A – Napoli v Bologna – Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples, Italy – May 11, 2024 Napoli’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa REUTERS/Alberto Lingria

Goalkeeper Andre Onana is also a doubt after suffering an ankle injury, football federation officials added.

Choupo-Moting has suffered a knee sprain while Zambo Anguissa pulled out of Tuesday’s training session with a hamstring injury. The midfielder, who turns 30 on Sunday, has scored four goals for Napoli in Serie A this season.

Cameroon are participating in a playoff tournament for the four best runners-up across the nine African World Cup qualifying groups, which concluded their fixtures last month.

This week’s mini-tournament offers the possibility of a 10th representative for the continent at next year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

If Cameroon win on Thursday, they would progress to a final in Rabat on Sunday against either Gabon or Nigeria to determine the African side that advances to the intercontinental playoff in March, where the last places for the 48-team World Cup will be determined.

Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions have competed in eight previous World Cups – more than any other African nation.

-Reuters

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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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