#1 VINCENT ENYEAMA
LOSC Lille
Date of birth: Aug 29, 1982
Age:32
Nationality:  Nigeria
Nation team Cap: 96
State of origin: Akwa Ibom
Place of birth: Kaduna
Height:1,82 m
Signed up by Lille: Jul 1, 2011‎
Market value:£3.96 Million

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Vincent Enyeama has distinguished himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the history of African football, just last season Vincent Enyeama became the first African goalkeeper to claim the best African player in France as a result of his superb performance for his club Lille in the French Lique 1.

Since making is senior debut for Nigeria against Kenya in 2002 and following up with a scintillating performance against England at the 2002 Fifa world cup, the Akwa Ibomite shot stopper has been ever present for both club and country.

The former Enyimba Fc of Aba save hand is not only a superb goal Keeper but a proven converter of penalty kicks, the fact that he has converted 20 penalties in the course of his career for Ibom stars, Enyimba and Hapoel tel aviv of Israel is a testimony to that assertion and despite being substituted for Dele Aiyenugba when games are stretched to penalty shootouts in his Enyimba days but his heroic against Tunisia in the Quarter finals of Egypt 2006 cup of Nations showed that he could also handle penalty duties.
The goal keeping legend had this to say about that feat in 2006..."I don't know why I was substituted before penalties, but it worked. In Israel I stopped many penalties and now everyone knows that I can handle penalties."


One of the criteria for sporting an outstanding footballer is consistency and Vincent Enyeama has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he belongs to that class of elite professionals in the game.
Starting his career with Ibom stars, the goalkeeper can boost of three premier league winners medals, two Confederation of Africa(CAF) champions League winners medals, two Israel premier league winners medals, two Israeli State Cup medals, three African cup of Nations Medals and also Captained his country Nigeria to claim the Afcon 2013 winners medal.

Surprising even on a personal note, in the world of soccer where forwards and mid-fielders take home the accolades for the overall teams performances, the goalkeeper nicknamed "Enyeama saving account" with some sections of religious fans of the super Eagles of Nigeria claiming that he can "save a relationship" because of his outstanding and devoted service for Nigeria can also boost of being named CAF champions League player of the year 2004, Israel Footballer of the year 2009, UNFP player of the Month October and November 2013 and becoming the First Goalkeeper to win the Marc Vivien Foe Award in France.


If the performance of a player is the criteria for picking the best in the continent, the mouth watering performances that Vincent Enyeama showed French Lique 1 followers in the 2013/14 Lique 1 season and considering the fact that no goalkeeper in the whole of Europe kept more clean sheets(28) than the save hand last season and his performance for the Super Eagles of Nigeria should be enough to hand the Shot stopper the prestigious honour and finally rewarding goalkeepers for their contributions on the field of play.

BlackBox Nigeria appreciates the fact that finally a goalkeeper, in person of Legendary Super Eagles Of Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has been short-listed among the top three contenders for the BBC African footballer of the year 2014 and he also made the 23-man short-list for the 2014 CAF footballer of the year award to be held in Lagos,Nigeria. We however appeal to the power shakers of African Football that the nomination is a welcomed development but Picking up the Prestigious award is the way forward for our football.


PERFORMANCE PER CLUB

Senior career*
Years Team Apps. (Gls). shutouts
1999–2000 Ibom Stars. 56. (1)
2001–2004 Enyimba. 100. (10)
2005 Iwuanyanwu Nationale. 36. (0)
2005–2007 Bnei Yehuda56. (0)
2007–2011 Hapoel Tel Aviv. 113. (9). 39
2011– LOSC Lille. 61 (0). 28
2012–2013 Maccabi Tel Aviv (loan)11

Vote HERE if you agree Enyeama should be crowned BBC African Footballer of the year.