### Nigeria's Super Eagles Face Turmoil Ahead of AFCON Quarterfinals Due to Bonus Disputes Nigeria's national football team, the Super Eagles, is grappling with significant internal issues as they prepare for their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinal match against Algeria. The team's preparations have been severely affected by ongoing disputes over unpaid bonuses, which have led to threats of boycotts from players. Additionally, there are reports of internal strife involving star striker Victor Osimhen, further complicating the situation as the match approaches [http://www.oneindia.com/sports/nigeria-unpaid-bonuses-osimhen-spat-africa-cup-011-7963724.html][https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/sports/soccer/nigeria-dealing-with-reports-of-unpaid-bonuses-and-osimhen-spat-before-facing-algeria-in-africa/article_aff07e8c-8e51-55c8-8972-bee9c23d50a9.html]. ### Breakdown of the Current Situation 1. **Unpaid Bonuses**: Players have expressed frustration over outstanding win bonuses, which have not been paid by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) or the government. This has led to threats of boycotting training and the upcoming match against Algeria [https://tuko.co.ke/sports/football/614392-afcon-2025-nigeria-players-threaten-boycott-quarter-final-match-algeria][https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2026/1/super-eagles-squad-threaten-to-boycott-training-and-delay-trip-to-marrakech-for-afcon-quarter-final-against-algeria-until-nff-settles-outstanding-bonuses.html]. 2. **Captain's Pledge**: In a bid to alleviate tensions, Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has pledged to personally cover the players' bonuses if the government fails to make the payments in time. This commitment aims to keep the team focused on their performance rather than financial disputes [https://africa.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/47567699/afcon-2025-nigeria-captain-wilfred-ndidi-pledges-pay-super-eagles-bonuses-own-pocket][https://brila.net/i-will-pay-captain-ndidi-takes-responsibility-as-super-eagles-camp-faces-bonus-turmoil]. 3. **Government Intervention**: The Nigerian government has confirmed that the players' bonuses for the AFCON group stage have been released, which may help resolve some of the tensions within the team. However, the timing of these payments remains critical as the quarterfinal match approaches [https://punchng.com/finance-ministry-confirms-release-of-super-eagles-bonuses-for-afcon][https://businessday.ng/news/article/afcon-2025-match-bonuses-now-being-paid-after-fx-process-streamlined-fg]. 4. **Coaching Response**: Coach Eric Chelle has refrained from commenting on the bonus situation, indicating that it is a matter for the federation to address. This lack of clarity from the coaching staff may contribute to the players' frustrations [https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/09/afcon-2025-ask-my-federation-eric-chelle-on-bonuses-crisis-in-super-eagles-camp]. ### Summary of Findings - **Current Challenges**: The Super Eagles are facing a dual challenge of unpaid bonuses and internal disputes, particularly involving Victor Osimhen, which could impact their performance in the upcoming match against Algeria. - **Leadership Actions**: Captain Wilfred Ndidi's commitment to cover bonuses personally reflects strong leadership but also highlights the severity of the financial issues at hand. - **Government Support**: The Nigerian government's recent confirmation of bonus payments may alleviate some tensions, but the effectiveness of this support will depend on timely execution. 1. **Unpaid bonuses have led to player unrest and threats of boycott**. 2. **Captain Ndidi's pledge to pay bonuses personally aims to maintain team morale**. 3. **Government intervention has confirmed the release of bonuses, but timing is crucial**. 4. **Coaching staff's silence on the issue may exacerbate player frustrations**. The situation remains fluid as the Super Eagles prepare for their critical match against Algeria, with the hope that financial disputes can be resolved swiftly to allow the team to focus on their performance on the pitch [https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/09/afcon-2025-ask-my-federation-eric-chelle-on-bonuses-crisis-in-super-eagles-camp][https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2026/01/09/nigeria-resolves-afcon-bonuses-dispute-government-says-players-money-released].