Report: Nigeria skip training over appearance fee dispute

Stop me if you've heard this one before.

According to Kick Off Nigeria, the Nigeria squad canceled a training session on Thursday after their demands for World Cup appearance bonuses weren't met.

Prior to the beginning of the World Cup, players and officials agreed on bonus amounts if the Super Eagles were to advance to the Knockout Stage. Unfortunately, only so much money was made available to the Nigerian Football Federation in Brazil. 

As a result, General Secretary Musa Amadu has left Brazil to travel back to Nigeria, and arrange the payments.

Kick Off Nigeria's report quotes a source from the Nigerian federation as saying, "Funds were only released for the group stages, so he has gone to get more for the second round."

However, players weren't happy that Amadu isn't due to return to Brazil until after their Round of 16 match against France. Instead of training, they discussed the matter with other officials in a meeting on Thursday.

The squad is scheduled to leave for Brasilia on Friday ahead of their match against France on Monday. There is no indication that they will threaten to boycott the match.

The controversy is reminiscent of the dispute that derailed the Super Eagles at the 1998 World Cup in France when players and officials held lengthy meetings to resolve a negotiating impasse instead of preparing to play.