Former Super Eagles B midfielder Ifeanyi Ifeanyi has opened up on life in Iraq, the pressures facing foreign players in the Middle East and why top stars continue to leave the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, 30, now based in Najaf, said concerns rose when tensions escalated between Iran, the United States and Israel, though daily life has remained largely calm in his area.
“Iraq has been good. When the issues started, we were a bit worried about the uncertainties. Nobody knows what could happen in the next minute as a neighbouring country to Iran. I stay in Najaf, which is two hours away from the capital. We also read that some parts of Iraq were hit, so you should expect a bit of panic, and some didn’t even know it happened, so everything looks calm on this side,” Ifeanyi told Punch.
Despite the uncertainty, he insisted fear never took hold.
“I won’t lie, I wasn’t afraid. Even in my country, we had challenges and I survived by the grace of God. There was no reason to panic because I have God. The only uncertainty was if they were going to stop the league, but we have kept on playing since then. If they had stopped, I would have gone home,” he said.
He described Iraqi football as demanding and increasingly competitive as the country rebuilds its league.
Ifeanyi noted, “Football here is difficult and they are trying to set their standards high, too. I think they have been affected by war before, so they are trying to rebuild. They sign players from every part of the world, including Europe and South America. The league is getting tougher, I have to put it that way.”
Since joining his new club in January, the midfielder admitted the battle against relegation has brought heavy scrutiny on foreign players.
“I’m doing my best on and off the pitch because when the team is not doing well, they blame it on the foreigners. When the team is doing well, they still don’t praise the foreigners; they praise their local boys. But we know the foreigners are not the problem. If you don’t have good local players to complement, there is nothing we can do. If you like, bring Messi and Ronaldo; if the local players are bad, it will show.”
Ifeanyi traced his journey across Algeria, Uzbekistan and Iraq, recalling a turbulent spell at ES Setif.
“You know these clubs are mafia clubs. The president was the one who liked me and signed me. The coach wanted another player, not me. When I got there, the coach wasn’t playing me and the president sacked him because of me. But the new coach wasn’t any better; he didn’t play me at all and brought his own players. Things got bad when the president was also arrested over some money laundering issues, so I had to see my contract run for eight months on the bench before I cancelled it.”
He said four seasons at Newroz felt like a second home but warned that players must be mentally strong in Arab leagues.
“Playing in Arab countries, you have to be strong mentally because they are mafia-like. They might come and kick you out for their own players. They don’t care if the team is doing well or not as long as they make their money.”
Ifeanyi Ifeanyi Differentiate Between NPFL and Leagues in the Arab World
Comparing his experiences abroad with the NPFL, he said the differences were stark, particularly in safety and pay.
“Things happening in the NPFL during my time there are nothing compared to what is happening here. The only difference is that they don’t beat referees here, but they beat referees in the NPFL, which is not good. Even though referees here make mistakes and are biased, nobody beats them. The security is tight, and they protect the officials.”
He added that better salaries and facilities abroad continue to draw Nigerian players away.
“Here, the pitches are even better. They only play on grass and not artificial pitches. There is also VAR and the money is high. In the NPFL, you would hardly see anyone earn up to a million when I was there. The least you can earn here in Iraq is ₦5m. In the second division, the least you will earn is ₦4m. If we pay better in the NPFL, why would I come to Iraq?”
