2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the Federal Government over the non-payment of allowances owed to Super Eagles players, describing the situation as “truly unfortunate” and reflective of a “disgraced country.”
Obi said it was unacceptable that athletes who consistently give their best to represent Nigeria were being neglected, while the government continued to indulge in what he called “needless lavish spending and political patronage.”
“We always seem to find money to waste, yet we cannot pay those who patriotically raise our flag and bring us pride,” Obi said in a post on Wednesday. “When those who serve their country are not treated with dignity, it sends the wrong message to our youth—that hard work and service are not rewarded.”
His statement comes amid a crisis in the Super Eagles’ camp in Rabat, Morocco, where players boycotted Tuesday’s training session ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoff against Gabon over unpaid allowances and bonuses from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Team captain William Troost-Ekong confirmed the protest, noting that the dispute was about unsettled payments from previous competitions, not demands for new bonuses.
Obi urged authorities to honor their obligations to the players, adding that “those who represent Nigeria deserve to be paid promptly and treated with respect.”
