Benson Chukwu
Ex-Premier League forward Troy Deeney has expressed disappointment over the recent contract dispute between Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) regarding unpaid bonuses.
The team’s preparations for their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier suffered a setback when players boycotted training earlier this week in protest of financial grievances.
While a resolution was later confirmed ahead of Thursday’s match, Deeney criticized the recurring nature of such disputes, which he believes undermine Nigeria’s football progress.
“It’s frustrating to see these off-field distractions resurface at such a pivotal stage of the qualifiers,” he remarked.
“This isn’t an isolated incident—it keeps happening at the worst possible moments,” Deeney stated during an interview with CBS Sports Golazo.
The Super Eagles must overcome Gabon in their semi-final clash in Rabat to advance, where they could face either Cameroon or DR Congo in the next round.
The latter two teams will compete in a decisive encounter later the same day.
Ayomide Olaniyan
