Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has debunked reports suggesting that the national team demanded a special bonus ahead of their CAF 2026 World Cup Playoffs kickoff in Rabat, Morocco.
In an exclusive clarification on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Ekong firmly stated that the players have made no demand for any special allowance, contrary to circulating claims that they were holding the nation to ransom before Thursday’s crucial clash against Gabon.
“Any other statement or claim, especially demands other than the rightful request written below, are FALSE,” Ekong posted, referring to their legitimate demand for unpaid bonuses owed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The Super Eagles’ frustration stems not from new demands, but from the NFF’s failure to pay long-standing bonuses dating back several competitions. These include arrears from both the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers and the 2026 World Cup qualifying series.
So far, players have reportedly received only a $1,000 appearance fee per match, and even that payment has been inconsistent. In some recent matches—such as last month’s qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic—the players did not receive any payment at all, despite funds allegedly released for that purpose.
Insiders close to the team revealed that the notion of a “special playoff bonus” did not originate from the players. Rather, it was the NFF leadership that mentioned such an incentive about a month ago, though no final decision or agreement was ever made.
Ekong and his teammates insist that their only demand is for the federation to honour its existing obligations—not to create new ones.
Tensions escalated on Tuesday when the Super Eagles boycotted training in Rabat, standing united in protest against the unpaid bonuses. Sources confirmed that the players issued an ultimatum to the NFF to clear the arrears immediately or risk the team returning to their respective clubs rather than playing against Gabon.
The development has cast a shadow over Nigeria’s preparations for the World Cup Playoffs, with fans expressing concern about how the off-field drama could affect the team’s performance.
By speaking out, Ekong aims to correct the misinformation spreading across social media and some news outlets. The players, he emphasized, are patriotic professionals who remain committed to representing Nigeria with pride—but expect fairness and respect from football authorities.
“We have not asked for any special treatment. We just want to be paid what we are owed,” a senior team member told Iwitnesslive.com on condition of anonymity.
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