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Tag: Vincent Enyeama

  • No Liverpool or Sunderland bid for Enyeama – Lille manager

    No Liverpool or Sunderland bid for Enyeama – Lille manager

    Lille manager, Rene Girard, has shut down reports linking goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama with a move to English premiership sides Liverpool and Sunderland.

    Reports in the French media had said the Super Eagles captain is a target for both English clubs as they bid to beef up their goalkeeping department in the winter transfer window.

    “Vincent has a contract that doesn’t terminate until 2017 and we have no intention of letting go one of our best players,” sl10.ng quoted Girard as saying to Le Foot.

    “The only bid we have receive for his services is the one I read from the papers, as Lille as a club we are yet to receive any bid from either Sunderland or Liverpool.”

    On the prospect of accepting if a bid finally comes in for the 31-year-old shot stopper, Girard shut down the talks completely by insisting it will be out rightly turned down by the team.

    “Every player is available for a certain fee, but Enyeama is not for sale, even if a bid comes in we will smartly turn it down,” he stated.

     

  • AFCON: Enyeama, Lawal assure on Eagles’ victory

    AFCON: Enyeama, Lawal assure on Eagles’ victory

    Super Eagles stars Vincent Enyeama and Raheem Lawal have restated that the team will defeat Sudan in Saturday’s African Nations Cup qualifier in Khartoum.

    The Sudan and Nigeria tie will kick off at 8pm Sudanese time, which is 6pm Nigerian time, africanFootball.com reports.

    Enyeama, who missed last month’s qualifiers, said the team will cope with the local conditions in Sudan.

    “We are professionals and we should be able to cope with any situation we see in Sudan,” said the Lille shot stopper.

    “We know it would be very hot, but there is nothing we can do about it. We know what is ahead of us and what is expected of us, so we would go there and do our best.”

    Similarly, Turkey-based Lawal has boasted that Sudan cannot stop Nigeria in this crucial AFCON qualifier.

    Lawal, who is making a return to the Eagles, noted: “If South Africa and Congo could beat Sudan, then Nigeria would also beat Sudan.

    “I am very confident that we would pocket six points from these two games. Sudan cannot stop us.”

    The reverse fixture is billed for Wednesday in Abuja with the final rounds of matches fixed for next month.

  • AFCON: ‘Enyeama will return for Sudan ties’

    AFCON: ‘Enyeama will return for Sudan ties’

    Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has said he will return to the team in October after pulling out of this month’s African Nations Cup qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.

    The Lille goalkeeper withdrew from the team in order to attend to some pressing family problems, africanFootball.com reports.

    “I will be open to the games in October. It’s my pleasure to represent Nigeria and so I won’t say no to Nigeria,” africanFootball.com quoted Enyeama as saying on his desire to continue featuring for the Super Eagles.

    Nigeria faces Sudan home and away in October

    Enyeama, who has been one of the country’s long-serving internationals, further said he is happy Stephen Keshi will continue as Eagles coach.

    “This helps for continuity and unity. I’m so thrilled he is back on board. Nigerians should support the team. We want to defend our title in Morocco,” he said.

    “I therefore wish them the very best against Congo on Saturday. I hope it will be an easy game, the boys will not struggle and we will win well.”

  • Enyeama inspires Lille to Ligue 1 top spot

    Enyeama inspires Lille to Ligue 1 top spot

    Nigeria international goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, was in supreme form on Friday as he helped his French club, Lille OSC, move to the top of Ligue 1.

    Enyeama kept his place between the sticks ahead of Steve Elana as Les Douges won a tough match day two contest 1-0 against Caen at MMArena, Le Mans, supersport.com reports.

    The 32-year-old had a busy evening as Caen, leaders of Ligue 1 from match day one dominated territorially with the home support in full voice.

    Enyeama made four saves in the match, as Lille stormed to the summit of the log with four points from two games.

    It was Enyeama’s second successive clean sheet in the competition after he shut out Metz on match day one at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

    Lille’s trainer, Rene Girard, was less than pleased with the display of his charges despite the win and guaranteed placing of top spot.

     

  • I’m still in Super Eagles – Enyeama

    I’m still in Super Eagles – Enyeama

    Nigeria international goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has declared that he has not quit international football.

    The 31-year-old made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2002 and has won 94 caps for the national team.

    Enyeama hinted after the 2014 FIFA World Cup that he would quit the Eagles but has now stated that he still has unfinished business with the reigning African champions.

    “I never said I will never play for the Super Eagles again. I only said I will consult with my family which is a normal thing to do. I am still very much a national team player,” Enyeama told supersport.com.

    The Lille OSC goalkeeper spoke after he received an award for excellence from Guvaps Management, organizers of the annual Ibom Football Awards in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    Enyeama said he was pleased with the accolade and promised to work harder in future.

    “I am really pleased with this award. I want to thank the Guvaps management for this. I have won many accolades in my career but to be honoured by my people in Akwa Ibom State is special.

    “Charity begins at home so this means a lot to me. I will continue working harder to achieve even more,” he said.

     

  • Wenger woos Enyeama

    Wenger woos Enyeama

    • Nigerian holds talks with Arsenal manager

    Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper and Assistant Captain, Vincent Enyeama may join Arsenal Football Club of England if talks between him and Gunners manager Arsene Wenger go well.

    Wenger, currently engaged as a pundit with French Television for the ongoing Brazil 2014 World Cup, has been using the opportunity to speak to players about joining the north London team to solidify them for both the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.

    Four key areas in his team Wenger is looking to fill include goalkeeping, defensive midfield, right back and the attack, and SportingLife understands that the Frenchman feels Enyeama has done enough in the ongoing World Cup to earn a place in his star-studded team.

    The Gunners’ 29-year-old second choice Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski recently signed a four-year deal with Swansea after seven seasons in London. Wenger has not made it a priority to look for a capable and dependable back up for his first choice in the Arsenal goal,  Wojciech Szczesny, who is also Polish.

    A top member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who was with the Super Eagles in Brazil throughout Nigeria’s World Cup campaign,  revealed to SportingLife yesterday that Wenger spoke with Enyeama and showed huge interest, but will only proceed with the deal if the player’s employers, Lille are interested in releasing him to Arsenal.

    “Let me reveal to you that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is highly interested in signing Vincent Enyeama and has actually spoken to the player but has not concluded discussions any way.

    “That is the reward of wonderful performances Enyeama has recorded in the World Cup in Brazil. Enyeama has proved in Brazil that he is among the three best players in the World Cup and I won’t be surprised if he finally pitches tent with the popular London club, Arsenal”, the source told SportingLife yesterday.

     

  • Enyeama’s error cost Nigeria-Keshi

    Enyeama’s error cost Nigeria-Keshi

    Stephen Keshi believes that Vincent Enyeama cost Nigeria their World Cup progress with his blunder in their 2-0 last-16 defeat to France on Monday.

    The goalkeeper pulled off some super stops to keep les Bleus at bay but made a fatal error with 11 minutes left on the clock, failing to clear a corner which allowed Paul Pogba to put Didier Deschamps’ men into the lead.

    Joseph Yobo, on his 100th cap, endured the pain of scoring an own-goal in the last minute of the match as the Super Eagles failed in their goal to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

    Keshi openly admitted that Enyeama’s error had handed the game to France while hinting that his players taking their eye off the ball is to blame for Nigeria’s latest World Cup exit.

    “Enyeama had to make a decision and I don’t know why he went for it like that,” he told reporters. “It’s his call and it cost us. It was a big moment.”I don’t know why African teams don’t go further. If I were out there on the pitch, I would never want to go home. Probably some of the players are not focused enough. We will have to review this.”Keshi also admitted that recent behind-the-scenes protests over Nigeria’s World Cup bonuses had been down to “cultural issues”, with fellow African nations Ghana and Cameroon also seeing their players go head-to-head with football associations over post-tournament pay-outs.

    Nigeria will be heading home from Brazil after the defeat, while France are set to face Germany or Algeria in the last eight.

  • ENYEAMA -SECRET OF MY SUCCESS

    ENYEAMA -SECRET OF MY SUCCESS

    Smarting from the euphoria of helping Super Eagles’ qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup in Brazil, Vincent Enyeama speaks on his success tips, Taiwo Alimi reports.

    Inspirational goalkeeper of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Vincent Enyeama has been sharing tips on the secret of his success following his superlative performance at the on-going World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

    Enyeama, who was impressive and kept a clean slate in Eagles first two games against Iran and Bosnia, shared his thoughts with one time Flying Eagles Vice-captain, Paul Okoku, who met the Lille OSC star, first, in Jacksonville, United States of America, during the World Cup tune up match between Nigeria and U.S.A. early this month.

    Okoku said of him after the Bosnia match: “The man of the match award goes to Vincent Enyeama. This guy is not aging, but getting better with age. Marjorie (Okoku’s wife) and I spent the entire Sunday, following Super Eagles, USA’s exhibition game, in Jacksonville, Florida, with the Super Eagles and Vincent is just wonderful.”

    Enyeama also impressed the football world ruling body; FIFA that he was penciled down for the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

    According to Okoku; Enyeama’s best kept secret to success are the two things that have kept him going, striving to better his good; God and family.

    “Enyeama is so humble. In the U.S I remember Segun Odegbami telling him to his face: ‘As far as I know you are the number one goalkeeper in the world.’

    Vincent Enyeama simply responded with a smile in humility saying, ‘ Big Seg, I believe you.’

    The ex-international observed that Enyeama’s great humility is derived from his attachment to God and family and ‘they are his secret to success. In everything he would always put God first and I can tell you he is a great family man.”

    After Eagles victory against Bosnia, Enyeama took to his twitter page to celebrate while ascribing the success to God with special reference to his wife, whom he described as ‘My Magic Band.’

    “I Couldn’t thank GOD enough for the match against Bosnia. And to all our teeming fans. I want to say thank you all. una too much.  Then added, “today is my  wedding anniversary. “My MAGIC BAND, my shining star…some years ago this month, we got it settled. thank GOD for this month.”

    Thereafter Enyeama posted pictures of his family; wife and three lovely children (a boy and two girls) on the social media site.

    In the pictures, Enyeama enjoy family time with his wife and kids, sitting at table together at dinner, playing together in the family swimming pool, riding together on individual bikes and even on the pitch together. His closeness to his wife is not in doubt, as the lovebirds appear in happy moods some of the pictures.

    Enyeama’s motto, which adores his twitter handle also, points to a man greatly inspired by God. “All or Nothing! Impossibility is nothing, stay focus and God will bring it to pass. Life is too short to worry about stupid things. Have fun. Hate no one, smile with everyone. Regret nothing AND don’t let people bring you down or make you cry.”

    Enyeama speaks further on his expectations at the World Cup in Brazil and life in Lille.

    Semi final target

    I think we are going to make big progress. We are focused on the World Cup, to make Africa the proudest continent. Ghana almost reached the semi-finals four years ago. We are going to achieve a better result and be the first African team to get to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

    France

    Playing France is the focus of the team now. It is going to be a special match because I play in France and they are great people. Nevertheless, the job must be done and I still believe that our target is not impossible. Ghana almost reached the semi-finals four years ago.

    Lille

    I always wanted to be a first-choice goalie anywhere I played. I always wanted to be the person who puts the smile on people’s face. At first it was not the case here, but it changed. I don’t work for trophies. I work to improve my game, to help my team. Trophies are just the icing on the cake. It feels great to keep 21 clean sheets and coming close to breaking the Ligue 1 record for a goalkeeper without conceding a goal. However, those statistics are far from the most important thing to me. I don’t care about statistics. I just want to see how far I can go and help my team. When I am no longer effective, then I leave the scene. I also do not care to be the most-capped player in the history of the Super Eagles – things like that.

  • Bosnia clash will be better

    Bosnia clash will be better

    Nigeria skipper Joseph Yobo has said he expects a lot more open game when they face debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday in their second group game at the World Cup.

    African champions Nigeria were pegged back by a resolute Iran on Monday night, while Bosnia lost 2-1 to Argentina in the opening Group F clash.

    “It will be an open game against Bosnia, who like us, are be looking for their first win of the competition,” said Yobo, who came on as a replacement for the injured Godfrey Oboabona as his 98th appearance for the Eagles.

    “I thought we played well against Iran, but we found it difficult to penetrate them. They always had 10 men behind the ball.Teams are defending well in this tournament.

    “We now have to be more creative and believe in ourselves, if we don’t, we only have ourselves to blame.”

    Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who pulled off a world-class save to deny Iran in the first half, said the team cannot wait for the next game against Bosnia. “We are looking forward to the next game. We just have to stay together and know where we got it wrong,” said the Lille shot stopper.

    Newcastle striker,  Shola Ameobi added Nigeria will be going for a win at the weekend.

    “We have to have the mindset to win our next game,” said Shola Ameobi, a second-half substitute against Iran.

  • Keshi releases Eagles World Cup list

    Keshi releases Eagles World Cup list

    GOALKEEPERS: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim

    DEFENDERS: Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose, Kunle Odunlami

    MIDFIELDERS: John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo, Reuben Gabriel

    FORWARDS: Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses, Uche Nwofor