The Nigerian camp breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday as players and officials returned to training, ending more than 24 hours of uncertainty caused by a protest over unpaid allowances and bonuses.
The standoff, which had attracted international attention, prompted swift intervention from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC).
Reports indicate that a meeting in Rabat between the players, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, and NSC officials successfully resolved the issue. All 24 invited players—including Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and captain William Troost-Ekong—are now back in camp and available for selection.
The evening training session is set to focus on tactics ahead of Nigeria’s clash with Gabon in the first semi-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa Play-off Tournament on Thursday. Meanwhile, Cameroon and DR Congo will contest the other semi-final.
The resolution comes as a major relief for head coach Eric Chelle, whose preparations had been disrupted by the standoff. With the crisis behind them, Nigeria can now turn its full attention to reclaiming a spot at the World Cup after missing out in 2022.
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