By: Chinedum Ohanusi
Newly signed, former Super Eagles of Nigeria forward, Brown Ideye was conspicuously missing from both the starting eleven, and the bench, as nine-time Champions Enyimba Int’l of Aba grinded out a disappointing goalless draw, with Sunshine Stars of Akure, in Aba, on Wednesday.
Ideye, a member of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winning team, was announced as player of Enyimba on Tuesday, and many had expected him to at least make the Matchday squad, or make his long-awaited return to the nation’s elitist domestic league, the NPFL.
Up next for Enyimba FC who are now 8 points adrift of the NPFL log leaders, Remo Stars FC of Ikenne is a trip to Maputo, to face Black Bulls of Mozambique, in a Day 3 fixture (Group D) of the 2025 CAF Confederation Cup, on Sunday.Surprisingly, Sunshine Stars who arrived in Aba without a substantive Head Coach, only to learn of the appointment of erstwhile Katsina United, Lobi Stars, and Niger Tornadoes of Minna gaffer, Mohammed Bala as their new Head Coach and successor of Kennedy Boboye; had the better of the exchanges, and refused to yield grounds, when Enyimba had the upper hand.
Ahead of Wednesday’s rescheduled Day 13 fixture against the Akure Gunners in Aba, Enyimba Int’l FC announced the signing of veteran forward Ideye, and believes that the former Super Eagles Star, still has what it takes to bolster its firepower upfront, and brighten their chances of winning the 2024/25 title.
According to the Sporting Director of the Aba People’s Elephant, Ifeanyi Ekwueme, Ideye will remain with the two-time African Champions until the end of the 2024/25 season, and is also expected to assist Enyimba FC sustain its push for a quarterfinal spot in the CAF Confederation Cup, where Enyimba has already lost one and drawn one of their two Group D games, played thus far.
“Yes, the talks have been going on with Brown and his representatives for a while and we completed it yesterday. He will be with us until the end of the season and we believe he will bolster our team’s attack as we compete in the league and on the continent.” Ekwueme asserted.
Ideye, who is now 36-years-old has been a free-agent, since leaving Kuwaiti side Al Yarmouk in 2022; but the coast is now clear for him to emulate former international teammates, Ahmed Musa and Abdullahi Shehu who are currently playing for Kano Pillars.
The well-travelled Ideye was in talks with Rivers United FC for long, but the negotiations eventually fell through, before Enyimba Int’l FC moved in to have the former Ocean Boys of Brass forward, sign the dotted lines for them.
