Ibrahim Gusau Blames Funding Delays for Super Eagles’ Training Boycott in Morocco

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Ibrahim Gusau has attributed the Super Eagles’ training boycott during the FIFA World Cup playoffs in Morocco to the Federal Government’s delay in releasing funds, insisting the incident was not the fault of the NFF.

The Super Eagles stunned Nigerian fans in November when they refused to train ahead of their playoff opener against Gabon, demanding payment of outstanding allowances reportedly running into thousands of dollars.

Speaking on Saturday during a chat with Segun Odegbami on Eagles 7 FM, Gusau described the situation as unfortunate but clarified that the Federation had not neglected its responsibilities.

“What happened in Morocco was regrettable; it has never happened since we came on board three years ago,” Gusau said.

He also dismissed claims that the unpaid allowances dated as far back as 2019.

“First of all, we weren’t owing the Super Eagles players allowance from 2019. The money we are talking about was not significant. It was allowances from the games against Lesotho and Benin,” he explained.

Gusau stated that the delay was caused by funding issues beyond the NFF’s control.

“We did not pay up on time because government did not release money to us. But once that money was made available, the players were paid.”

Despite the disruption, Nigeria went on to defeat Gabon 4–1 in the first playoff match. However, the Super Eagles faltered against DR Congo in the final playoff, ultimately missing out on a place in the intercontinental playoffs and World Cup qualification.

Expressing his disappointment, Gusau admitted the failure to qualify was deeply painful.

“I am the number one person who is not happy we did not qualify,” he said.

“Because we did everything we needed to do to boost the team. But at the end of the day, it didn’t happen. Nigerians deserve our apologies.”

Looking ahead, the NFF president promised renewed efforts to restore confidence in the national team.

“At the AFCON, we will try to revamp the Super Eagles, return to winning ways, and regain the confidence of Nigerian fans,” Gusau concluded.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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