Former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze has opened up about a tense encounter with a Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official, revealing that he came close to slapping the official during a dispute over unpaid match bonuses. The incident, which took place in the 2003/2004 season, stemmed from a disagreement regarding the payment of promised bonuses after a victorious match.
Details of the Incident
Speaking on The 5th House podcast, shared on X, Udeze recounted how the NFF official attempted to pay only a portion of the agreed amount. According to Udeze, the players were expecting to receive $5,000 each after winning a game. However, the official went to the rooms of teammates Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, proposing to pay $2,500 first and the balance later when the players returned to the national team.
Confrontation in the Room
Udeze explained that Okocha and Kanu directed the official to his room. When the official arrived and handed him a pen to sign for the payment, Udeze felt disrespected. He said, 'It looked as though my late father just woke me, and say ‘look at the money.’ I asked him, ‘What happened? Complete the money.’ He said there’s no money, next time we’ll complete the money. I told him, ‘Go and meet the captain, talk to them. Nobody has signed here. I am not supposed to be the first person to sign here.’
Udeze’s account highlights the frustrations players faced regarding delayed and partial payments during that era. The incident, he noted, nearly escalated into a physical altercation, but he managed to restrain himself.
