The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enyeama

  • Enyeama promises: World Cup will be special

    Enyeama promises: World Cup will be special

    Nigeria goalkeeper and stand-in captain Vincent Enyeama is relishing the prospect of playing in a third World Cup finals after his side overcame Ethiopia 4-1 on aggregate in their African section play-off.

    Nigeria won the initial leg 2-1 in Addis Ababa courtesy of a brace from Emmanuel Emenike but they were made to work harder in Calabar during the second leg before recording a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Victor Moses and Victor Obinna.

    The Lille shot-stopper admitted he is amazed to have earned the chance to play in a third global finals and claimed 2014 would be extra special for his side given that they enter the tournament as champions of Africa.

    “We are happy that we have booked a place at next year’s World Cup. It is amazing that we shall be in the party to Brazil,” Enyeama told reporters.

    “I have been to two World Cup finals in 2002 when I was picked miraculously and also at the 2010 edition in South Africa. This one is special because we are going to Brazil as African champions,” he said.

    Nigeria were joined in the draw for the group stages on December 6 by Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday, after the Elephants secured a 4-2 aggregate win over Senegal.

  • Enyeama continues fine form for Lille

    Enyeama continues fine form for Lille

    Super Eagles and Lille of France goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama on Saturday night stretched his record of consecutive clean sheets as his team forced out a goalless draw with Guingamp at Stade du Roudourou.

    Enyeama’s heroics have thus seen Lille move up to second on the Ligue 1 standings despite the stalemate.

    In the Week 13 fixtures, Lionel Mathis was sent off late on for the hosts, but neither side could find a winning goal.

    Lille came close to an opener just after the half-hour mark when a cross found its way to the edge of the box, but Jonathan Delaplace’s low strike was deflected just wide of the near post and into the side-netting.

    The visitors had a brilliant chance to take the lead just before the break, but Salomon Kalou managed to send his header wide from just four yards out.

    The hosts were forced to play the final eight minutes of the match with 10 men, as Mathis was given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card.

    The point lifts Lille outright above third-placed AS Monaco and are now four points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain, while Guingamp sit eighth.

  • Dosu backs Enyeama’s ambition

    Dosu backs Enyeama’s ambition

    Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Dosu Joseph (MON) has queued behind Lille of France shot stopper, Vincent Enyeama after the Eagles stand-in captain stated his ambition to be the best goalkeeper in the world.

    Dosu in a chat with futaa.com said he was happy that Enyeama had such a big dream and also concurred that he has what it takes to be at least among the best shot stoppers in world.

    “I’m happy he has such ambition, which I believe will motivate him to work harder; already he has been named the best in Africa so aiming to be the best in world is welcomed.

    To make his dream come true however, Dosu believes Enyeama will have to move to a bigger club than Lille where he currently stars for.

    Enyeama has been massive in the Ligue 1 this season recording more clean sheets than all his contemporaries in France.

  • Enyeama aims at world best

    Enyeama aims at world best

    Nigerian goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama believes he can be the best goal keeper in the world.

    Enyeama’s statistics are frightening this term as he has conceded goals in only two of Lille’s eleven league games in Ligue 1.

    The shot-stopper kept another clean sheet on Friday as Lille beat Nantes 1-0 on match day 11 but he is not resting on his laurels even as Les Douges now sit in 2nd place in the league standings.

    “It’s about work, work and even more hard work. I believe in hard work,” he told the club’s official website, www.losc.fr.

    Enyeama is certainly enjoying the best spell of his professional career and he took the time to explain the steps he has taken to get to the top.

    “(I have been) watching videos and looking at (my) mistakes. I keep striving day and night to correct them. When I make a mistake, I am hard on myself….more than I could get on someone else if he made the same mistake. That’s the way I am. I have set very high standards for myself. I believe I can be the best goal keeper in the world,” he said.

    Enyeama has been capped 86 times for Nigeria since making his debut for the Super Eagles in 2002.

  • New Tax law: Enyeama, others go on strike

    New Tax law: Enyeama, others go on strike

    Super Eagles and Lille of France goal keeper Vincent Enyeama and other players in the French Lique 1 and 2 have been directed to go off action for one weekend in protest at the French government’s plans for a new “super tax” on wealth.

    The nation’s Professional Clubs’ Union (UCPF) announced on Thursday there would be no matches staged on the weekend of 29 November – 2 December.

    The bone of contention leading to the planned strike has to do with the new proposal that wants companies, rather than individuals to be liable to pay the 75% rate for the part of employees’ annual salaries that exceed €1m.

    Paris St Germain, who are owned by Qatar, will be the hardest hit, while Monaco, backed by a Russian billionaire, will be exempt as they do not fall under French tax laws.

    The clubs had initially hoped they would be exempt, but the sports minister Valerie Fourneyron confirmed last month that that would not be the case.

    A statement on the official LFP website said: “This day ‘football in danger, all together!’ is unprecedented in the history of French football, as a first initiative from football to protest against the introduction of exceptional tax on high salaries paid by employees under the draft budget law for 2014.

    “This tax is unfair and discriminatory. The economic crisis has not spared the clubs who have had their ticket sales and television rights decrease for three consecutive years.”

    Jean-Pierre Louvel, the UCPF president is to meet with President Francois Hollande to discuss the situation.

  • Enyeama’s Howler: Don’t blame him, says Akpoborie

    Enyeama’s Howler: Don’t blame him, says Akpoborie

    Jonathan Akpoborie has come in defense of Super Ealges goalkeeper and captain, Vincent Enyeama after his howler gifted Ethiopia Walya Antelopes the first goal in 2014 World Cup play-off decided Sunday at the Addis Ababa National Stadium.

    The Lille of France goalie inexplicably failed to react until it was too late to a rather tame and mis hit cross from Behailu Assefa, catching the ball when it was clearly over the line, leading to one of the strangest goals you’re ever likely to see.

    Akpoborie on his Twitter handle ?@akpoborie said: “Anybody that blames Enyeama for that goal has no clue about football.”

  • Enyeama Yells:Ethiopia must fall

    Enyeama Yells:Ethiopia must fall

    Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama is aware of the strength and threat Ethiopia could pose when both sides clash in the first leg of the 2014 World Cup qualifier next month, but the stand-in captain is bracing up for the game.

    “It will be a difficult game, that’s what I think. They are a good side, a side that has been together for a while so I think they will definitely be a hard nut to crack”he told KickOffNigeria.com

    “But with the help of God we ought to go there and finish the game. Our mission is to finish the game in the first-leg.

    “I think we can do it, we just need to work hard, train well, get really prepared for the game and believe God to see us through because there is nothing that cannot be achieved.

    Enyeama is enjoying a good run of form in the French Ligue 1 as the shot stopper on Tuesday night kept another clean sheet in Lille’s 3-0 bashing of visiting Evian Thonon Gaillard FC at the Grand Stade Lille Métropole.

    Tuesday’s flawless outing was the sixth of the season for Lille and Enyeama’s third successive clean sheets as he begins to stamp his authority in French football having been relegated to the back seat before now.

  • Enyeama praises team mates

    Enyeama praises team mates

    Rates Malawi goalie high

    Super Eagles’ stand-in captain, Vincent Enyeama has praised the resilience of his team mates after Nigeria thumped the Flames of Malawi 2-0 at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar in the 2014 World Cup qualifier played on Saturday.

    Enyeama said the never say die attitude of the Eagles was the saving grace against the Southern African despite the visitors defensive approach for most part of the game.

    He challenged them to continue with the same spirit as soon as Nigeria’s next round opponent is known to ensure that the Eagles get a spot in Brazil 2014 World Cup.

    “The goal we scored was like the oxygen given to a dying man. We needed a goal and got it just at the nick of the first half when we actually needed it. We just have to thank God that we pulled through.

    He also heaped plaudits on the Malawian’s goalkeeper, Swini Charles whose sharp reflexes reduced his team’s arrears of goals:”Malawi goalkeeper had a great game but what is more important now is not what he did but what we achieved. We achieved a milestone today(Saturday). We have qualified for the next round. I don’t want to talk about others I am only concerned about the Eagles,”Enyeama counselled.

     

  • Enyeama confesses: Eagles know what is at stake

    Enyeama confesses: Eagles know what is at stake

    Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama insists the Stephen Keshi tutored-side will play with their hearts to get a deserving victory against the Flames of Malawi in today’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the U.J.Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

    The Lille of France shot-stopper told Sportinglife at the team’s Transcorp Hotel base that squad members are aware of the importance of the game and will not take anything for granted.

    ‘For me, everybody in the team knows what is at stake for the match. We are not praying to lose the game. We will go there to win the game. My prediction of the match is that Nigeria will win and Malawi will lose,’ Enyeama said.

    The former Enyimba FC of Aba goal tender, who has don 80 caps for the national team, hinted that he feels honoured to stand in for Joseph Yobo as the Eagles’ captain.

    ‘It is a big honour for me to stand in for Joseph Yobo. He is a good friend and wonderful person. It is a prestige for me to step into his shoes.’

     

  • Emenike, Enyeama steal the show

    Vincent Enyeama and Emmanuel Emenike were the standout performers as African champions, Nigeria conducted their first full training session on Thursday evening ahead of today’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Malawi.

    The session, which lasted just under two hours at the UJ Esuene stadium, Calabar, kicked off at 3:50pm. The goalkeepers were made to work away from the rest of the squad as goalkeeping coach, Ike Shorunmu drilled the trio of Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim.

    The 20 outfield players were then divided into 10 groups of two players each. Short and long passing skills were perfected in the exercise.

    After that session which lasted 30 minutes, the players cooled off with a 10 minute water break before commencing the next round of training. Head coach, Stephen Keshi then divided the players into two teams of 10 players each.

    “Team A” comprised of Godfrey Oboabona, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike, Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echiejile, Victor Moses, John Mikel Obi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Sunday Mba.

    James Okwuosa led “Team B’ which also included players like Benjamin Francis, Solomon Kwambe, Ogenyi Onazi, John Ogu, Nosa Igiebor, Brown Ideye, Shola Ameobi, Uche Nwofor, Obinna Nsofor.

    The session was aimed at testing the players’ ability to control the ball in tight spaces and improve accuracy with a small target.

    Igiebor excelled as he scored a brace with Musa, Nwofor and Nsofor all scoring for their respective sides. Mba, Onazi and Moses also impressed with their passing.

    Ideye, however, showed an alarming lack of confidence in front of goal as time and again, he opted to pass to teammates when he was in promising positions.

    In the rare periods when he opted to go for goal, he failed woefully to hit the target as the fans booed him. Keshi then worked on tactics with the keepers now joining in the session.

    Emenike then showed he had lost none of his goal scoring instincts in front of goal as he smacked home a couple of brilliant goals. His first of the session was so good that he wheeled away in celebration while the beaten keeper, Ejide applauded.

    Nwofor’s love of spectacular goals appears to be innate as he got the fans roaring in appreciation after nonchalantly scoring with a back heel, not quite unlike his goal in Nigeria’s 2-0 win against South Africa in the Nelson Mandela challenge in August.

    The biggest cheer was, however, reserved for Enyeama who astonishingly saved three times in succession from Onazi from inside the box. Even Keshi applauded as the stand-in keeper showed he was ready to lead by example.

    Speaking to supersport.com after the day’s exertions, Enyeama praised his teammates for their “dedication and hard work”.

    “It was a good one today. I want to commend my teammates for their dedication and hard work. Even in the rain, the boys gave their all. We are set to defeat Malawi,” he said.