Nigeria’s Super Eagles have put behind them a brief allowance dispute and are now fully focused on their quarter-final encounter at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after arriving in Marrakesh, Morocco.
The team’s trip to the host city had earlier been clouded by uncertainty following concerns raised by players and officials over unpaid match bonuses.
The situation sparked talks of a possible boycott of the journey from Fez, where the team had been based, to Marrakesh a development that drew widespread attention from fans and football stakeholders.
However, the federal government swiftly intervened, moving to fast-track the payment of bonuses owed for the Eagles’ four matches in the tournament so far.
Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, explained that the delay resulted from the process of converting funds into foreign currency, which aligns with the players’ preferred mode of payment.
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She assured that the transfers into the players’ domiciliary accounts would be completed within days.
With the issue addressed, the Super Eagles proceeded with their travel plans and touched down in Marrakesh, signaling an end to the off-field distraction and a return to full concentration on the task ahead.
Nigeria will face Algeria on Saturday in what promises to be one of the most compelling fixtures of the tournament. The Super Eagles head into the tie with the competition’s most lethal attack, having scored 12 goals, while Algeria boast the strongest defence, conceding just one goal in four matches.
The encounter also rekindles memories of the two sides’ last AFCON meeting in 2019, when a late free-kick from Riyad Mahrez ended Nigeria’s campaign and sent Algeria on their way to lifting the trophy.
With a place in the semi-finals at stake and a potential showdown against either Morocco or Cameroon awaiting the winner the Super Eagles will be hoping to turn renewed focus and unity into a decisive performance on the pitch.
As preparations intensify, attention now shifts from boardroom concerns to football matters, with Nigerians eagerly anticipating another defining moment in the team’s AFCON journey.