The former goalkepper and captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Vincent Enyeama has called on foorball loving Nigerians to be patient with the present set of goalkeppers in the team.
Nigerians have been talking about the exit of the former Lille shot stopper in recent times more than before after two costly error by the duo of Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho in crucial games.
Okoye was largely at fault for the goal Nigeria conceded in the 0-1 loss in the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations which led to their exit from the tournament, while Uzoho’s gaffe gifted Ghana the goal that helped them pipped Nigeria to the World Cup ticket.
Both goalkeppers have come under serious criticism with many saying they are no where near Enyeama who quit the scene in 2015 after an extraordinary international career which started at the World Cup in 2002.
Enyeama however played down the criticism saying every goalkepper is unique in their own way and his tenure has come and gone. He said finding another goalkepper like him will be difficult as he is different but he did say they can have a better goalkepper in the future.
“I support them and the one thing I will say is Nigerians should know they can never get another Vincent Enyeama”, he told ESPN.
“I know that people are judging them by that standard, but there’s only one Vincent Enyeama, only one version of every player.
“They will have another great goal keeper but not Vincent Enyeama. At some point I was a one man riot squad standing between the other team and goals, sometimes I will make six, seven, eight or nine saves in a match.
“But I was not always like that, and these young boys can get to that stage too, but only if they get the support from Nigerians and from their coaches.”
