Why I Was Dropped From 2014 World Cup Squad — Ideye

Former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye has revealed that his shocking exclusion from Nigeria’s 2014 FIFA World Cup squad may have been the result of a fractured relationship with his longtime Nigerian agent who he claims was extremely close to then-head coach Stephen Keshi.

Ideye, a key figure in Nigeria’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations-winning campaign, formed a lethal attacking partnership with Emmanuel Emenike during that triumphant run in South Africa. But despite his pivotal role in the team, he was left off the roster for the World Cup in Brazil.

In an interview on The Play Zone, Ideye traced the fallout back to a transfer dispute that unfolded while he was fielding interest from two Premier League clubs.

The disagreement began as West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion circled. Ideye explained that his Nigerian agent was handling negotiations with West Ham, while a UK-based representative was pushing the West Brom deal forward at a faster pace.

“The West Ham deal wasn’t moving forward, but the West Brom deal was all set to happen. I chose the safer move to West Brom in the end,” Ideye said.

He added that his Nigerian agent felt betrayed by the decision to lean on another representative for the West Brom transfer. “He felt I had betrayed him by opting for another agent, and he became quite upset.”

To prevent further conflict, Ideye said he decided to terminate their professional relationship. However, he believes that choice came at a steep cost.

“I, 99.9 percent believe that this is the reason I was left out,” Ideye stated, pointing to the agent’s close ties with Keshi. “Because he and Keshi are close.”