From 1981 To 2025: How Bonus Wahala Don Scatter Nigeria World Cup Dreams

Super Eagles don resume training ahead of Thursday’s World Cup playoff against Gabon for Rabat, but history show say di wahala from dia short strike fit don already affect dem. For di past four decades, every player strike or pay wahala for national team don dey come with painful loss wey dey spoil Nigeria World Cup dreams. Di pattern start from 1981, wey Nigeria miss Spain ’82 World Cup after home-based players protest say foreign-based teammates like Tunji Banjo, Thompson Usiyen, Chris Nwokocha, and Andrew Atuegbu dey get ₦5,000 bonus. Di fight scatter team prep, Nigeria lose 2–0 at home and 4–1 on aggregate.

Similar wahala happen for 1989 before Italia ’90 qualifier against Cameroon, wey make players no waka go Yaoundé until dem collect bonuses, delay 6 hours, Nigeria lose 1–0. For France ’98, Super Eagles nearly boycott Round of 16 against Denmark over unpaid allowance, negotiations go last minute, squad tire and distracted, Nigeria lose 4–1. History repeat for Brazil 2014, wey players boycott training before Round of 16 vs France, government carry cash settle payments, still lose 2–0. Dis week strike, even if short, dey rekindle old wahala memories as Nigeria face Gabon for final stage of World Cup qualifying. Fans dey fear say history fit repeat, and for team wey wan make am after missing 2022 World Cup, di timing of di unrest na serious test.