John Obi Mikel, Kenneth Omeruo, Brown Ideye, Efe Ambrose, Emmanuel Emenike, Elderson Uwa Echiejile; front: Victor Moses, Sunday Mba, Vincent Enyeama, Godfrey Oboabona, Ogenyi Onazi — during the 2013 Orange African Cup of Nations 3rd QuarterFinal match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on February 03, 2013. [Photo Credit/ Imago].
Former Super Eagles and Enyimba International striker Brown Ideye has revealed why he didn’t make Nigeria’s final 23-man squadlist for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 36-year-old was an integral part of Stephen Keshi’s side that lifted the 2013 AFCON tournament in South Africa, scoring one goal and providing one assist throughout the competition as he played all six games.
Ideye also represented Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, the same year, scoring two goals in three games.
He was a present figure in the Nigerian team, and his absence from the squad raised several eyebrows, considering newbies like Shola Ameobi, Michael Uchebo, and Uche Nwofor made it to Brazil.
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Brown Ideye of Nigeria ( c) during the 2013 Orange African Cup of Nations 1st Semi Final match between Mali and Nigeria at Moses Mabhida Stadium on February 06, 2013. [Photo Credit/ X].
Speaking on the Home Turf Podcast, the former West Bromwich Albion striker linked his absence from the squad to a feud with his agent at the time.
“Rest in peace to the big boss [Stephen Keshi]. It wasn’t his fault that I didn’t make the squad. I understood everything that happened.
“It started after the 2013 Nations Cup. I went back home and had a transfer issue with Dynamo Kyiv. I wanted to leave, and I had a Nigerian agent who I was working with at the time. I’d been working with him from my first deal up until Kyiv.
“So I told my agent I wanted to leave, but he told me I needed to stay because I had other offers and he didn’t come forward with a deal.
“Apart from the Nigerian agent, I had one in the United Kingdom. The agent in the UK brought the West Bromwich Albion deal, and my Nigerian agent failed to work with him. Both parties failed to agree due to commission discrepancies.”
Ideye hoisting the Nigerian national flag after he won the 2013 edition of the AFCON tournament. [Photo Credit/ X].READ MORE: Photos: Top 5 Stadiums In Nigeria
“My Nigerian agent remained adamant, but I went through with the deal and moved to West Brom,” the ex-Malaga man continued.
“After the deal, he called me and was really upset, and I responded as well. It was back and forth. I felt the best thing to do at the time was to let him go because some of the things he said made me realise we couldn’t work together anymore.
“Two weeks later, I got a call from a close friend in the national team who enquired about the situation with my agent, and I told him I no longer work with him since my lawyer served him a termination letter.”
Brown Ideye of Enyimba during the CAF Confederations Cup, Group D match between Enyimba of Nigeria and Associacao Black Bulls of Mozambique, Godswill Akpabio Stadium on January 5, 2025, in Uyo, Nigeria. [Photo Credit/ Imago].It turned out the agent wielded more power than Ideye knew was possible at the time, costing him a place on the World Stage. He never got to play for Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup.
“My friend urged me to call the agent to resolve our differences because it might affect my place in Nigeria’s 2014 FIFA World Cup squad, but I thought he was just bluffing.
“Eventually, the list came out, but my name wasn’t there, and I wasn’t surprised because I had gotten a heads up. It hurt, I spoke with the coach, but he told me to settle with the agent,” Ideye concluded.
Brown Ideye explained why he was dropped from Super Eagles 2014 World Cup Squad.
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Ideye’s last game for the Super Eagles came in October 2016 in Nigeria’s 2-1 win against Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi helped the Super Eagles seal three points in the World Cup qualifying game.
Adefolahan Guerreiro
Adefolahan is a multilingual journalist and writer at Soccernet Nigeria.
With a track record of involvement in College sports, Adefolahan is focused on crafting engaging football content and utilising his language skills and extensive sports knowledge to enhance content accessibility for a global audience.
He has interviewed Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.
