Enyeama’s five most memorable Eagles games

By Mansur Abubakar @mansur_112


An era came to an end when 101 capped former captain of the Super Eagles Vincent Enyeama decided to resign from international football this week, here are some of the best matches the long serving goalie will be remembered by after serving the national team for 13 years.


Nigeria/England 2002 FIFA World Cup
Marking only his fifth appearance for Adeboye Onigbinde’s team against a star studded English three lions, it was evidently clear that the then Enyimba shot stopper would go a long way in the game of football.
Made two glorious saves to deny midfielder Paul Scholes and David Beckham before the break and was also on hand for Sol Campbell’s header in the second half. The game ended goal less with Enyeama seen as Nigeria’s hero of the day for Nigeria instead of the mercurial Austin Okocha or goal getter Julius Aghahowa.

Nigeria/Tunisia African Cup of Nations 2006
This game has the Lille player’s heroics written all over it. Apart from some tremendous saves during the full 120 minutes of this thrilling contest between reigning champions Tunisia and Eagles, Enyeama went on to save three of the North African player’s penalty kicks during shoot out as Nigeria progressed to the semifinal of the tournament only to be defeated by a Didier Drogba led Ivory Coast team.

Nigeria/Argentina FIFA World Cup 2010
Enyeama made his second FIFA World Cup participation in the 2010 tournament in South Africa. In Nigeria’s opening match, he was named man of the match, producing a defiant display to restrict Argentina to a 1–0 win. Enyeama, who was playing his 56th international for the Super Eagles, made six fine saves against the two-time world champions, four of them from Lionel Messi with Argentine coach Diego Maradona praising him as the reason Messi was not able to score a goal.

Nigeria/Burkina Faso African Cup of Nations 2013
At the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Enyeama deputised for regular captain Joseph Yobo, who stayed on the bench for most of the competition and on 10 February, he led Nigeria to its third continental victory, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 defeat of Burkina Faso in the final. He was named to the team of the tournament as first choice goalkeeper, conceding only four goals in six matches.

Nigeria/Argentina 2014 FIFA World Cup
Even though most people will remember this game (Nigeria wise) as belonging to Ahmed Musa who scored two quick fire goals against Mundial favourites Argentina thereby becoming the first ever Eagles player to score twice in a single senior world cup game. Those with deeper memories will also recall the fact that the score line would have been a lot bigger than 3-2 it finished if not Enyeama’s agile saves.
Saved a wonderful free kick from Lionel Messi before half time and made two other massive moves to deny striker Sergio Aguero and Pablo Higuain before the end of the full 90 minutes.

Has Nigeria always do things, Enyeama shall b remember but not now

Vincent Enyema my role model.