Former Super Eagles and Enyimba striker, Brown Ideye, has shared the reason he was left out of Nigeria’s final squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The 36-year-old was an important part of the team that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) under the late coach Stephen Keshi. He played in all six matches, scored one goal, and provided one assist. He also scored twice for Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.
His absence from the 2014 World Cup squad surprised many, especially as less experienced players like Shola Ameobi, Michael Uchebo, and Uche Nwofor made the team.
Speaking on the Home Turf Podcast, Ideye explained that his omission was not Keshi’s fault, but rather the result of a fallout with his Nigerian agent at the time.
“Rest in peace to the big boss [Keshi]. He wasn’t to blame. I understood what happened,” Ideye said.
He explained that after AFCON 2013, he returned to Dynamo Kyiv but wanted to leave the club. He had a Nigerian agent who had been with him since the start of his career, but they disagreed on his transfer plans.
“I told my agent I wanted to leave, but he said I should stay. He didn’t bring me any new offers. Meanwhile, I had a UK-based agent who brought me the West Brom deal, but my Nigerian agent didn’t want to work with him because of disagreements over commission.”
Despite the conflict, Ideye went ahead with the move to West Bromwich Albion. This caused more tension between him and his Nigerian agent.
“He was really angry after I signed the deal, and I decided to stop working with him. I even sent him a termination letter through my lawyer.”
Two weeks later, a close friend in the national team warned Ideye that the agent might use his influence to block his place in the World Cup squad.
“I didn’t believe him at first. But when the final list came out and my name wasn’t there, I wasn’t surprised. I had already been warned. I later spoke to Coach Keshi, and he told me to settle things with the agent.”
Sadly, Ideye never got the chance to play for Nigeria at the World Cup.
His last appearance for the Super Eagles was in October 2016, when Nigeria beat Zambia 2–1 in a World Cup qualifier. Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi scored the goals that day.