Bonuses row: Blame NFF, not Super Eagles – Kpakor

A former Super Eagles player, Moses Kpakor, has said there is nothing wrong with the decision of the current squad to boycott training over unpaid bonuses a few hours to their crucial 2026 World Cup playoff match against the Panthers of Gabon. Preparations for Thursday’s decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff match hit a serious […]

A former Super Eagles player, Moses Kpakor, has said there is nothing wrong with the decision of the current squad to boycott training over unpaid bonuses a few hours to their crucial 2026 World Cup playoff match against the Panthers of Gabon.

Preparations for Thursday’s decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff match hit a serious stumbling block on Tuesday after the Super Eagles boycotted training in Rabat, Morocco.

The players refused to take part in the session over unresolved issues surrounding unpaid allowances and special request bonuses that have lingered for nearly two years.

The protest came as a shock to many following the National Sports Commission’s earlier claim that it had settled all the outstanding payments to the players.

While reacting to the bonuses row, the member of the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad, Kpakor, told Daily Trust on Wednesday that instead of blaming the players, Nigerians should ask the NFF to pay the players their entitlements.

He said the football federation right from the time of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) had formed the habit of delaying or not paying players’ bonuses whenever they come to represent the country.

According to the BCC Lions and Abiola Babes legend, the NFF had consistently failed to put its house in order even at very critical moments like the 2026 World Cup playoff, which is a few hours away.

“The problem is with the NFF. Why not pay the players their bonuses? Super Eagles are professionals who play for money. They are not amateur players.

“As a member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), we just returned from strike because we were not paid our entitlements as agreed with the government. The case of footballers is not different. The NFF must learn to pay as and when due.

“By the way, NFF knew they would pay these bonuses. Why didn’t they plan towards it? There is nothing like wrong timing by the players. Countries like England, Argentina, Spain, and the rest, don’t owe their players because they plan ahead.”

Kpakor maintained that there is nothing like disloyalty or lack of patriotism in the action taken by the players.

He said the aggrieved players must have learnt from the unpalatable experiences of their predecessors who lost so much money because they couldn’t fight for their rights.

“Please no one should accuse the players of lack of loyalty or patriotism. Over the years, some of us have lost our money to the NFF. I can’t support the federation against the players who are fighting for their rights.

“If the NFF does not have money, they should discuss sincerely with the players. Is it because they are playing abroad that someone would think they don’t need the money?” he queried.

The most successful player in Nigeria’s FA Cup history reiterated that the issue of poor timing shouldn’t arise because nobody can tell the players when to fight for their rights.

“Those who are saying the Super Eagles didn’t time their action very well are not being fair to them. Super Eagles are professionals. Professionals work for money. There should be no sentiments. It has nothing to do with patriotism,” he concluded.

As we get closer to the kickoff of the must-win match, the NFF is yet to issue an official statement on the embarrassing situation but a few minutes ago, the Media Officer of the Super Eagles, Promise Efoghe, announced in a terse post that “Issues resolved. Super Eagles to train at 5pm.”