Former Super Eagles B midfielder, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, 30, has said he would not have left the Nigeria Premier Football League for Iraq if players were better rewarded at home, stressing that poor wages continue to drive Nigerian talents abroad.
Speaking in an interview with the Punch, the midfielder, currently with Iraqi side Al Najaf, explained that financial incentives in the NPFL remain far below what is obtainable in countries across the Middle East and North Africa.
“If they pay better in the NPFL, why would I come to Iraq? If there was money like the South African PSL or Egyptian league, we would stay at home,” he said.
He added that even lower divisions in Iraq offer far better earnings than Nigeria’s top flight during his time in the league.
“The least you can earn here in Iraq is about N5m. In the second division, it is around N4m. In the NPFL, hardly anyone was earning up to a million,” Ifeanyi stated.
The midfielder, who has played in Algeria, Uzbekistan, and Iraq, said many Nigerian players are forced to move abroad despite the challenges due to financial realities at home.
He also described football in Iraq as competitive but improving, noting better infrastructure and officiating standards compared to the NPFL.
“Here, the pitches are better, they play on grass, and there is VAR. In the NPFL, referees are sometimes attacked, which is not good,” he said.
Reflecting on his journey, Ifeanyi recalled spells at ES Sétif and several clubs in Uzbekistan and Iraq, including Newroz and Qizilqum, while admitting that instability and club politics often affected his career abroad.
Despite the challenges, he insisted he has no regrets about his career path, having also represented Nigeria at U-20 level, CHAN, and in the Super Eagles B team.
He concluded that improved pay and structure in the NPFL would significantly reduce the exodus of top Nigerian players to the Middle East and other emerging leagues.
