Former Nigeria international, Dominic Iorfa, has condemned the Super Eagles for boycotting training over unpaid match bonuses ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoff semi-final against Gabon, describing the players’ action as “disgusting” and unpatriotic.
Iorfa, fondly called Speedstar during his playing days, expressed disappointment that such incidents still occur in modern Nigerian football, especially at a time when players earn substantial sums from their club contracts.
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“The players that are refusing to train because of match bonuses or incentives — it’s a disgusting thing to talk about,” Iorfa fumed. “It surprises some of these European countries when they hear the kind of money African players get for playing for their nations.”
Recounting his experience as a player in England with Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in the early 1990s, Iorfa said his teammates were often shocked at the bonuses African players received for representing their countries.
“At QPR, we had players like Ray Wilkins, Kenny Samson, David Seaman, Paul Parker, and Roy Wegerle. Whenever I told them how much I got for playing for Nigeria, they’d ask, ‘What for?’ because European players only get bonuses when they qualify for major tournaments,” he recalled.
The former forward emphasized that most of the current Super Eagles players owe their fame to the national team platform and should, therefore, show greater commitment and gratitude rather than prioritize financial disputes before key matches.
“How can they refuse to train because of bonuses despite the huge sums they earn from their clubs? The national team gave them the exposure they enjoy today. About 80% of them wouldn’t even be known without it,” he said.
Iorfa also reminisced about an era when Nigerian stars rose to fame through the domestic league before earning international recognition — a system he said instilled pride, discipline, and a deep sense of national identity among players.
The ex-international urged the team to set aside personal grievances and focus on national pride as they chase a place at the 2026 World Cup, warning that internal wrangling could derail their qualification campaign.
“This is not the time for distractions. The players must remember that wearing the green and white jersey is an honour, not a bargaining chip,” he concluded
