Former Super Eagles defender, Ifeanyi Udeze has revealed the intense battle between Greek club PAOK FC and the Nigeria Football Federation over his availability for international duty during his playing career.
Udeze, who made two appearances for the Super Eagles at the 2002 World Cup, made the revelation while reflecting on the difficulties many players encounter in balancing club commitments with the opportunity to represent the Super Eagles.
The former defender first gained international recognition at the inaugural UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup in Portugal in 1997, a tournament that also served as a platform for future stars such as Spain’s Xavi Hernandez and Portuguese legend Simao Sabrosa to showcase their talents on the global stage.
Speaking on the 5th House Podcast, Udeze recalled how he was forced to make a difficult decision shortly after joining PAOK, when he received an invitation to feature for the national team at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
According to the former left-back, the coach made it clear that accepting the invitation could jeopardise his place in the first team.
