Out-of-favor Nigeria international Brown Ideye did not hold back during an X space conversation hosted by The Naija Football Conference on Saturday, June 22.

The former West Brom striker touched on various topics, including the absence of genuine leaders in the current Super Eagles squad.

Ideye pointed out that experienced players Kenneth Omeruo and Ahmed Musa, who were his teammates in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations-winning Super Eagles squad, are no longer guaranteed spots on the roster.

The 35-year-old questioned the leadership qualities of William Troost-Ekong, suggesting that the PAOK central defender, who captained the Super Eagles at the AFCON, is merely a figurehead.

Ideye argued that Troost-Ekong lacks the authority to manage influential Super Eagles players such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze.

He asserted that the Super Eagles have underperformed in recent matches due to the absence of a leader who can instill discipline and maintain focus, contrasting this with his playing days when the team had leaders like Vincent Enyeama and Joseph Yobo.

“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 stated.

“Who do you want to give the leader role to, Ekong? It’s not about having the captain’s armband. Can Ekong sit Osimhen, Chukwueze, Lookman down and speak to them? No.

“I don’t see Osimhen sitting down with Ekong and hearing everything he has to say without saying something back.”

Ideye also cited the ongoing European Championship to bolster his argument, noting that many European teams field players well into their 30s.

“The Euro is going on. Most of the teams have players 34, 35, 36 years old playing. Do you think they don’t have young legs to bring in? They have, but you cannot buy experience.

“As soon as you turn 30 in Nigeria, they will say you are old and should be replaced by younger players.

“That is what is lacking in this present Super Eagles. There is no leader in the team. 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 is currently seeking a new club following the expiration of his contract with Kuwaiti side Al-Yarmouk SC.

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