Former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye has voiced concerns over the current state of Nigeria's national football team, highlighting a crucial issue of leadership on the field.
Ideye stressed that the absence of strong leadership among the players during matches has been detrimental to the team's recent performances.
His comments come amidst ongoing discussions about Victor Osimhen's criticism on former Super Eagles manager Finidi George.
The 35-year-old made this known during an online discussion in an X space conversation hosted by The Naija Football Conference on Saturday, June 22nd.
Ideye's insight on the Super Eagles' leadership issues
Ideye highlighted the absence of strong leadership among the players during matches has been detrimental to the team's performance.
“A leader has to be someone who has been in that team for years and years. In the present Super Eagles we don't have those players like Enyeama and Yobo anymore,” Ideye remarked.
He questioned the leadership capabilities of current captain William Troost-Ekong, stating, “Who do you want to give a leader, Ekong? It's not about having the captain's armband. Can Ekong sit Osimhen, Chukwueze, Lookman down and speak to them? No.”
Ideye further expressed doubts about the ability of younger players to fill leadership roles, arguing, “As soon as you turn 30 in Nigeria they will say you are old, they should bring in young players to replace you.”
He also commented on the experience versus youth debate, noting, “The Euro is going on, most of the teams have players 34, 35, 36 years playing. Do you think that they don't have young legs to bring in? They have but you cannot buy experience.”
He concluded by lamenting the team's lack of on-field leadership and the consequences it has on their performance. “There is a leader outside which is the coach but on the pitch there's no leader and we are paying dearly for it,” Ideye added.
The former West Bromwich Albion forward, made 28 appearances for the Super Eagles and scored six goals. He was a member of the Super Eagles team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013.
