Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has urged his teammates not to underestimate Gabon ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff clash, while the Super Eagles’ preparations have been disrupted by a players’ boycott over unpaid bonuses.
The Super Eagles missed out on automatic qualification and will now compete in the playoff round to keep their World Cup hopes alive. Nigeria faces Gabon on Thursday, November 13, at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex in Rabat, with Cameroon taking on DR Congo in the other fixture. The winners of both matches will meet on November 16 for a place in the intercontinental playoff.
Speaking to Olympics.com, Troost-Ekong warned that Gabon—led by veteran forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang—remain a dangerous opponent capable of punishing any lapse in concentration.
“Gabon is a strong team. Aubameyang continues to lead from the front, causing problems for defenders. I’ve played against him in Saudi Arabia, and I know what he brings,” Troost-Ekong said.
“In Africa, you can’t underestimate any team, and we certainly won’t do that with Gabon.”
However, Nigeria’s build-up to the decisive match has been overshadowed by off-field issues, as players and technical staff boycotted training on Tuesday in protest over unpaid bonuses.
According to team sources, the squad refused to take part in the scheduled session, demanding assurances from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) regarding the delayed payments. The standoff has cast uncertainty over the team’s readiness for Thursday’s fixture.
The NFF has acknowledged the dispute but has yet to provide a clear timeline for settling the outstanding bonuses.
Despite the tension, Troost-Ekong and senior players remain hopeful that the matter will be resolved quickly, allowing the team to resume full training and focus on securing Nigeria’s return to the World Cup stage.
The Super Eagles are aiming for their seventh World Cup appearance, having last featured in Russia 2018, where they narrowly missed advancing from the group stage.
