Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has cautioned his teammates not to underestimate Gabon ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs, emphasizing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s threat.
The West African football heavyweights missed out on automatic World Cup qualification, and are set to participate in a playoff to determine their fate for the tournament to be staged in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The playoff structure sees Nigeria face Gabon on November 13 at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex in Rabat, while Cameroon takes on DR Congo. The winners will compete on November 16 for a spot in the intercontinental playoffs.
Speaking to Olympics.com, Troost-Ekong praised the quality of the Gabonese side while stressing the importance of staying focused and disciplined throughout the encounter.
“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.”
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles preparations for the crucial playoff against Gabon suffered a major setback on Tuesday, with players and officials boycotting training over unpaid bonuses.
As a sign of protest and dissatisfaction over unresolved bonus issues, the players and officials botched to train as they await a swift resolution to the financial dispute before the clash on Thursday.
Sources close to the team suggest the players and officials will not return to training until they receive assurances regarding the pending bonuses.
The situation puts the team in a delicate position, as any delay in training could affect match readiness ahead of the high-stakes World Cup playoff.
The Nigeria Football Federation has acknowledged the dispute but has not provided an immediate timeline for resolving the matter.
Both players and officials have expressed optimism that discussions will conclude swiftly, allowing the squad to resume training and focus fully on securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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