Former presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government over the non-payment of allowances and bonuses owed to the Super Eagles, following the players’ decision to boycott a training session in Rabat, Morocco.

In a post on his X handle on Wednesday, Obi described the situation as “unfortunate,” lamenting that athletes who continue to make sacrifices to bring honour to the country are often neglected by those in authority.

“It is truly unfortunate that our Super Eagles, who consistently give their best in representing our dear nation, are being owed their allowances,” Obi said.

The former Anambra State governor condemned what he called the government’s misplaced priorities, saying funds are always available for frivolous political spending but not for rewarding national service.

“We always seem to find money to waste on needless lavish spending and political patronage, yet we cannot pay those who patriotically raise our flag and bring us pride,” he said. “That is what is found in a now disgraced country.”

Obi further noted that failure to treat national representatives with dignity sends a discouraging message to young Nigerians about the value of hard work and patriotism.

“When those who serve their country are not treated with dignity, it sends the wrong message to our youth — that hard work and service are not rewarded. Those who represent Nigeria deserve to be paid promptly and treated with respect. We must do better,” he added.

The Super Eagles are currently in camp for their World Cup playoff fixtures, with reports indicating that players and officials stayed away from training on Tuesday over unpaid allowances and bonuses.