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By Bosun Adeyemi
Brown Ideye, a former Super Eagles striker and 2013 AFCON winner, has delivered a scathing assessment of Nigeria’s domestic football structure following the country’s 4-0 humiliation by Sudan at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN). Ideye believes the problem lies with the quality of players, stating, “We’re not good enough, that’s the bitter truth. It’s what you have, the coach will work with, period. And we don’t have what it takes to compete on the bigger stage”.
Ideye emphasizes that the issue is not with the coach or tactics, but with the caliber of players available.
He points to deeper structural issues within Nigerian football, questioning NPFL’s ability to produce players ready for international competition.
Ideye has also highlighted concerns over player welfare, citing his experience with Enyimba where players were paid as low as N7,000 or N8,000 per day during away matches with no fixed structure.
Nigeria suffered a 4-0 defeat to Sudan, with goals from Leonard Ngenge (own goal), Walieldin Khedr, and Abdel Raouf.
The Super Eagles B team exited the tournament without a point or goal in their first two matches, conceding five times.
They will play a dead-rubber match against Congo on August 19, 2025.
Ideye’s comments have reignited debate over the urgent need for structural reforms in the NPFL, covering player welfare, facilities, and competitive standards.
