Former Super Eagles forward and ex-Enyimba FC star, Brown Ideye, has reignited the conversation around unpaid wages in Nigerian football, calling out his former club for allegedly owing match bonuses from the just-concluded season.
In a strongly worded post shared on Twitter, Ideye questioned the delay in payment and urged Enyimba to settle outstanding dues owed to him and his former teammates.
“Because I get money I should not ask for the one I worked for? Please pay me and the players last season match bonuses… @EnyimbaFC. The season ended in May, till now nothing. New season will start next month,” he wrote.
This isn’t the first time Ideye has addressed the issue. In a recent podcast interview, he opened up about the financial hardships players at Enyimba face—including extremely low preparation allowances and delayed or inconsistent match bonuses. According to him, players were sometimes given just ₦7,000 per day while preparing for matches, and match bonuses could range between ₦10,000 to ₦15,000—if they were paid at all.
“There’s no fixed match bonus. You only get it at the end of the season—if you’re lucky,” he revealed.
With the 2025/26 NPFL season just weeks away, Ideye’s latest outburst has sparked widespread debate among fans, journalists, and player advocates. Many have praised the striker for using his platform to amplify the voices of struggling players, most of whom may not have the visibility or influence to speak up for themselves.
The club, however, has yet to issue a public response.
As Enyimba prepares for a fresh campaign, pressure is mounting on the management to clear outstanding debts and restore trust within the squad. Whether or not action will be taken remains to be seen, but Ideye’s message is clear: Nigerian footballers deserve better.
