Former Super Eagles forward Brown Ideye has urged footballers to take financial planning seriously, insisting that players who go broke after retirement deserve jail time.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner, who recently announced his retirement from international football, shared the advice on his official X account, stressing that players should view their wages as a lifetime’s salary earned in just a few years.
“Footballers, start saving for your future from day one. No matter how small your salary is, put something aside for your retirement,” Ideye wrote.
He further advised players to pray for the right support system, highlighting the importance of surrounding themselves with good people and having a reliable partner after their careers end.
The 35-year-old made the comments while responding to an online debate about footballers who mismanage their finances. After a follower argued that professionals, particularly those who played in Europe, have little excuse not to secure their future, Ideye replied: “They should be jailed for life if, after they retired from playing, they can’t feed themselves.”
The discussion was sparked by ex-defender Taribo West’s emotional outburst at the burial of late goalkeeper Peter Rufai on Friday. West criticised both the Nigeria Football Federation and the Lagos State Government for allegedly neglecting the families of Nigerian football heroes.
He pointed out that Rufai’s family had been left without financial assistance, recalling similar hardships faced by the families of late legends Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha.
“Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit within our groups to ask for money? That is madness,” West said in a video posted by News Central.
His remarks reignited debate on social media about the financial struggles of ex-internationals, with many questioning why some players, especially those who spent years in Europe, failed to build financial security.
