Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has dismissed reports suggesting that the national team is demanding a special bonus ahead of Thursday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff clash with Gabon.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Troost-Ekong clarified that the players have made no new financial demands, emphasizing that the team is only asking for the payment of long-overdue bonuses and allowances owed to both current and former Super Eagles players dating back to 2019.
“Once resolution is found, we will be the first to confirm. Any other statement or claim, especially demands other than the rightful request written about below, is false. All we want and continue to do is focus on the big games ahead,” the captain wrote.
Sources close to the team revealed that the idea of a special playoff bonus actually came from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) before the squad’s arrival in Morocco, not from the players themselves. The players, the source added, are only seeking a fair resolution to the outstanding debts and have not requested any additional match bonuses.
Meanwhile, all 24 invited players, including Victor Osimhen, Maduka Okoye, and Alhassan Yusuf, are now fully settled in camp in Rabat, Morocco, as preparations continue for the crucial playoff against Gabon.
It was also gathered that head coach Eric Chelle is currently owed two months’ salary, though he has not made any public statement on the issue.
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