The Nigerian Super Eagles football team faced a significant disruption in their preparation for the CAF World Cup playoffs against Gabon. Just two days before their crucial match on Thursday, the players initiated a strike on Tuesday, boycotting a scheduled training session. This action stemmed from a long-standing issue of unpaid bonuses and allowances owed to them by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). The team had gathered in Morocco, reaching maximum capacity on Tuesday, and had conducted their first training session on Monday with early arrivals.

Team captain William Troost-Ekong publicly confirmed the strike via social media, as the NFF initially remained silent. His posts clarified that the players' demands were solely for outstanding payments. The strike, however, was short-lived, as it was called off on Wednesday after the NFF cleared all outstanding financials. Troost-Ekong again used social media to confirm the resolution, stating the team was united and focused on the upcoming games.

Former Super Eagles coach and technical director Augustine Eguavoen expressed his displeasure with the players' decision to strike, particularly regarding its timing. While acknowledging the players' aspirations to play in the FIFA World Cup and enhance their market value, Eguavoen stated, "The timing of the strike was wrong. They might have had their reasons but the timing was not the best." Despite his criticism, he maintained faith in the team's ability to "rise up to the occasion and do the business on Thursday, and afterwards, on Sunday."

With the bonus dispute behind them, the Super Eagles are now fully focused on their high-stakes match against Gabon. This game is crucial, with no room for error, as a loss would undoubtedly draw the ire of fans who already questioned the strike. A victory would advance them to face the winner of the match between DR Congo and Cameroon, intensifying their path towards the World Cup.

The incident also brought to light deeper, long-standing issues within Nigerian football. Former Sierra Leone midfielder and CBS Sports pundit Michael Lahoud severely criticized the NFF, stating that "the biggest thing that the Nigerian players are playing against isn't the opponent; it's always been the Federation." Lahoud, citing Nigerian legend Sunday Oliseh, pointed out that the NFF's failure to pay players has been an issue since 2001, hindering Nigeria from fulfilling its potential despite having "enough quality" to reach major tournament semi-finals, like Morocco. He described the Federation as a "disaster for decades," impacting elite players like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

Lahoud further questioned William Troost-Ekong's leadership qualities, despite his MVP award in the AFCON 2023 final where he captained the team. Lahoud argued that Ekong acts as a "social media leader" rather than an on-field presence, stating, "He hasn't led from the back, so at the end of the day, Nigeria needs to do the talking on the pitch." He emphasized the need for "serious leadership" and posited that Victor Osimhen is currently the "only leader in Nigeria."

Troy Deeney, former Watford teammate of Troost-Ekong, echoed Lahoud's sentiments regarding the captain's leadership style. Deeney agreed that Ekong, while a "good guy," lacks the "nastiness" required to effectively lead the current Super Eagles squad in critical moments. He lamented the recurrence of off-the-field issues during World Cup qualifiers, calling it "a huge shame."

The Super Eagles are scheduled to play Gabon at the Stade Prince Moulay El Hassan, facing not just an opponent but also the lingering shadow of internal disputes and external criticism. The onus is now on the players, particularly those like Osimhen, to perform on the pitch and secure their World Cup aspirations.