Super Eagles duo Iwobi and Ajayi make first public appearance amid bonus row in Morocco

Super Eagles duo Alex Iwobi and Semi Ajayi have been spotted outside the team's hotel in Rabat, Morocco, marking their first public appearance since the players boycotted training over unpaid allowances and bonuses.

The Nigerian team opened camp at the Rive Hotel on Sunday ahead of Thursday's crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff clash against the Panthers of Gabon.

The squad successfully held its first training session on Monday evening, but players refused to train on Tuesday in protest, demanding payment of outstanding match bonuses and allowances reportedly owed for previous games.

The situation has sparked widespread criticism of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with many Nigerians accusing the football body of neglecting players' welfare at a crucial stage of the qualification campaign.

The NFF has since opened negotiations with the players to resolve the impasse, though no agreement has been reached as of Wednesday morning.

In a post shared on X by Kelechi Anyikude, Iwobi and Ajayi were briefly seen outside the Rive Hotel, the first time any player had been spotted in public since the standoff began.

Although neither player made a comment, their appearance has suggested as a possible sign of progress in the ongoing dispute.

Nigeria must defeat Gabon on Thursday to advance to the final round of the playoffs, where they are set to face either DR Congo or Cameroon for a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Adeyemi Adewale

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