Former Super Eagles player Brown Ideye has publicly accused Enyimba FC, a two-time CAF Champions League winner and nine-time Nigerian champion, of failing to pay outstanding bonuses.
Ideye took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday to demand payment of match bonuses owed for the 2024/2025 season, which concluded in May.
“Because I get money, I should not ask for the one I worked for? Please pay me and the players last season’s match bonuses,” he posted, addressing the club’s management.
Ideye’s revelation comes on the heels of his recent disclosure about the poor welfare conditions at Enyimba FC.
According to him, players were paid a meager N7,000 per day for meals during the 2023/2024 campaign.
He also claimed that match bonuses ranged from N5,000 to N30,000, often paid only at the end of the season.
“It depended on the opponent or the game’s importance. Some games were N5,000, others maybe N10k or N30k if it’s big — and that’s if the money comes at all,” Ideye said.
“The current conditions hinder player development and motivation,” he said, advocating improved welfare and prompt payment structures for NPFL players.
Ideye’s honesty has sparked a renewed conversation around the treatment of players in Nigeria’s domestic league.
Fans and football stakeholders are calling for urgent reforms and greater accountability from club administrators and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Leave a comment