Nigerians on social media have been left unimpressed after Alex Iwobi posted a video of the hotel provided to Super Eagles ahead of the 2026 2026 FIFA World Cup African Play-off Tournament in Morocco, which many described as embarrassing.
From the video, the surrounding buildings around the hotel housing the Nigerian team in Rabat could only be described as blighted and littered with decayed satellite dishes and sundry clothes, which is a rare sight in high-profile international competitions.
The clip instantly gained traction on social media and has drawn criticism from Nigerians, with many comparing the buildings in the video to Nigerian Police barracks and hostels in public schools, which are notoriously known for being unhygienic and dilapidated.
Traditionally, it is the duty of the organising confederation, in this case, CAF, to provide accommodation for participating nations.
However, individual national governing bodies, including the Nigerian Football Federation, may still lodge complaints and request a change of hotel.
Reacting to the video, X user, Fatoki Solio, said, “That hotel is like boys hostel in federal college Ido Ani. NFF don do this one again. How do you expect them to perform at the highest level with this kind of build up!?”
“Imagine how we are treating our players in preparation for Nigeria’s biggest games of the last 4 years,” @Letter_to_Jack, a popular account on X, said. “Some of these players are dollar millionaires in their own right, so this is more than incompetence/corruption, it is lack of regard for professionals of their class.”
Another X user, @Papitijo, commented, “If you read atomic habits, you would know that little things like this adversely affect performance. If we don’t qualify for the World Cup, don’t drag Alex Iwobi! Blame NFF.”
Speaking to Peoples Gazette, a member of the Super Eagles’ contingent in Morocco, who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak for the federation, said, “Rive Hotel, check online,” he told The Gazette. “What you saw are other buildings around, not the hotel itself.”
This is not the first time members of the national team have complained about accommodations at international competitions.
Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade complained about the rooms given to them by CAF during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco earlier this year.
