National Teams
‘Pay them, don’t blame them!’ — Kpakor backs Super Eagles’ boycott over unpaid bonuses
By Dayo Awoniyi
Former Nigeria midfielder, Moses Kpakor, has voiced strong support for the national team’s decision to boycott training over unpaid bonuses ahead of Thursday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff against Gabon’s Panthers in Rabat, Morocco.
The team’s preparation hit a major setback on Tuesday when players refused to participate in their scheduled training session, citing two years of unresolved allowances and bonus arrears. The move came as a surprise to many Nigerians, especially after the National Sports Commission recently claimed that all outstanding payments had been settled.
Reacting to the development, Kpakor, a member of Nigeria’s 1990 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad, said the players should not be blamed for demanding their entitlements, accusing the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of long-standing financial mismanagement and poor planning.
“The problem is with the NFF. Why not pay the players their bonuses? Super Eagles are professionals who play for money, not amateurs,” Kpakor told Daily Trust.
“NFF knew they would have to pay these bonuses. Why didn’t they plan ahead? There’s nothing like wrong timing — professionals deserve their pay.”
Drawing a parallel with his experience as a university lecturer and member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kpakor compared the players’ protest to workers standing up for their rights.
“We just returned from a strike because we were denied our entitlements. It’s the same principle here — you can’t expect loyalty when people are owed what they’ve worked for,” he said.
The former BCC Lions and Abiola Babes star dismissed suggestions that the players’ boycott was unpatriotic or poorly timed, insisting that the NFF must take responsibility for the crisis.
“Please, no one should accuse the players of being unpatriotic. Over the years, some of us lost our allowances because we didn’t fight back. These players have learnt from our mistakes,” he said.
“If the NFF doesn’t have money, they should come clean and discuss it. It’s unfair to assume that because players earn abroad, they don’t need their entitlements.”
Kpakor, Nigeria’s most decorated player in FA Cup history, added that professionalism should not be mistaken for sentiment.
“Professionals work for money, not emotions. There’s no bad timing in fighting for your right,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, amid the controversy, Super Eagles Media Officer, Promise Efoghe, confirmed late Wednesday that the dispute had been resolved, announcing that the team would resume training by 5 p.m.
The players have since returned to full preparation ahead of Thursday’s all-important World Cup playoff in Rabat.
