Ideye eyes Super Eagles return

Enyimba striker Brown Ideye says he is open to a return to the Super Eagles following his bright start to life with nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League champions Enyimba.

The 36-year-old has scored two goals off the bench in three matches for the Aba giants after joining them in a short-term deal until the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

His goals have also been crucial for the club’s resurgence in the NPFL as well as the CAF Confederation Cup.

He scored his first goal in their 4-1 win over Black Bulls in their fourth CAF Confederation Cup game on Sunday, helping them end their 10-game winless run before scoring the winner in their 2-1 win over Nasarawa United during a rescheduled NPFL game on Wednesday.

“For sure, I will jump on it because I’m not retired from international football yet. So why not? If I get called up to represent my country, I’m going to honour the invite, for sure,” he said via Channels TV Sports Tonight.

The former Ocean Boys striker could not have asked for a better return to the Nigerian topflight after about 17 years, as he expressed confidence in the team’s ability to get their campaign back on track.

“The mindset has changed, the environment has changed, the win in Uyo has changed things and we believe we have a really good squad,” Ideye said via Uyo-based journalist Festus Dada.

“I owe these people a lot, especially Kanu. He spoke to me, he called me, he pleaded with me and also the former coach Yemi Olarenwaju.

“It’s the love of the game and I still wanted to play.”

Thanks to Ideye’s contribution in their last game against Nasarawa United on Wednesday, the former Nigerian champions have moved two places up on the log from ninth to seventh with 27 points after 17 matches.

They will return to action with a must-win CAF Confederation Cup game against Al Masry of Egypt on Sunday in Uyo before playing another outstanding NPFL game against Kwara United on Wednesday.