Udeze Reflects on Players’ Struggle Between Club and National Team

Former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze has shed light on the intense conflicts players often endure between their club obligations and the opportunity to represent their national teams. Udeze, who played for Greek club PAOK FC, shared his personal experiences of navigating these demands during his playing career.

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Sydney 2000, I was supposed to be there because I just moved from one club to another. So, I have to establish myself as a first-team player there. So, the coach called me when the invitation came to Sydney, is either you choose the national team or you choose to stay here? But know one thing, if you go to the national team, if you come back, you will start fresh. There’s no automatic shirt for you. So you will start fresh to see if you will be a first team player in my team.

Udeze recalled a particularly difficult situation shortly after joining PAOK when he received an invitation to play for Nigeria at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The coach made it clear that accepting the national team call-up could jeopardize his position in the club's starting lineup. "The coach called me when the invitation came to Sydney, is either you choose the national team or you choose to stay here?" Udeze recounted. He explained that returning after international duty meant starting fresh to earn his place back in the team.

The struggle between club and country continued in 2001, ahead of a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Ghana. Udeze, who had become a vital player for PAOK, stated that the club initially refused to release him despite repeated requests from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). This created a significant dilemma for him, caught between the demands of his club and the NFF.

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In 2001 as well, our World Cup qualifiers against Ghana, we played 1-1 in Accra. I think I was the Man of the Match in the game. What happened before the game, my club (PAOK) refused to release me. I think our coach in the national team was Bonfrère Jo. It is not a small battle between my club, me, and the NFF. I was in the middle. NFF will send a fax to my club, my club will send back to NFF that I refuse to honour the invitation. Whereas, they are the ones who told me not to go.

"It is not a small battle between my club, me, and the NFF. I was in the middle," Udeze said. He explained that PAOK's reluctance stemmed from his importance to the team and their fear of him sustaining an injury during international duty. "They don’t want me to go and come with injury. So, they try to protect me," he added. Despite the pressure from his employers, Udeze remained determined to fulfill his national team commitments whenever possible.

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I am a first team player now. We have about three or four important games and they need me. They don’t want me to go and come with injury. So, they try to protect me.