Sports

Is Enyeama World Class Keeper?

Published

12 years ago

December 6, 2013

The Lille keeper has em
barked on a remarkable run of form and currently stands on the cusp of breaking a French defensive record that has stood for eleven years.
As a result, his profile, both within Europe and beyond, has increased greatly. Many have heard of the name or been vaguely aware of his standing, but only now are people beginning to speak of Enyeama with the breathless ecstasy and splurging excitement typically reserved for the profession’s elite.
Does Enyeama deserve to be considered as ‘World Class’.
To begin with, it is important that I present my definition of World Class; this is a term that is often bandied around and thrown into hypothetical discourse, perhaps without the clarification and attention it deserves. I think that the majority agree that the term means, vaguely, “ranking among the best or foremost in the world” but that alone is not sufficient explanation.
Are all professional footballers, the paid minority among a globe of aspiring hopefuls, world class? Are all international players, those who represent their nation in the global arena, world class? Are those who win trophies or make the finals the foremost in the sport? Clearly, there is an ambiguity here.
I define a World Class footballer as one who would stand out or excel consistently in the most rarefied of fixtures, those that pit the world’s finest teams together, i.e. the semi-finals, maybe even the quarter-finals, of a Champions League or World Cup. Again, there are some vague terms here, but it is, at least, a start.
When considering a player’s standing, I ask myself, “How would they perform at this elite end of competition, within the context of the world’s best?”
So, how does Enyeama stand against this qualification?
The immediate, simplistic and disappointing answer, is that we are not quite in a position to make a judgement just yet.
Over the last 12 months, Enyeama has not played against the kind of elite opponents that would populate the business end of major tournaments. He did not concede against a second-string Italian side in a recent international friendly having replaced Austin Ejide in the second half.
High-profile Ligue 1 games against Marseille and Monaco have come and gone and his goal has remained sacrosanct, but none of these opponents, as teams go, are among the world’s finest. The evidence to judge, effectively, whether Enyeama would thrive regularly against the world’s greatest, simply does not exist.
We can only speculate.
Speculation, however, begins to paint a picture of a very established keeper approaching the pinnacle of his profession.
He currently stands 142 minutes away from breaking Gaetan Huard’s record of 1,176 minutes without conceding a goal, a truly remarkable feat.
The likes of Fabien Barthez, Bernard Lama, Hugo Lloris, Greg Coupet and, recently, Salvatore Sirigu have all featured in the intervening years without breaking the record, and yet here, Nigeria’s Enyeama stands on the brink of doing just that.
It is worth adding, as well, that many of these other stoppers stood behind exceptionally celebrated defences, while Lille, despite possessing some fine talents, recently lost Aurelien Chedjou, who was such an imposing force for them last season.
Even though Marseille and Monaco are not currently competing in the business end of the Champions League, both possess exceptional forwards that were unable to find Enyeama’s net.
Falcao, who certainly is World Class, was persistently frustrated when the sides met in early November, while Mathieu Valbuena, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Jordan Ayew were unable to bypass the Nigerian.
If Enyeama is to take Huard’s record, he will need to remain resolute (for 52 minutes at least) when the dual terrors of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani seek to undermine him on December 22. If he can do that, then immortality awaits.
Enyeama has not quite been as outstanding for Nigeria over 2013, and while it is easy to remember the highs, particularly his referee-lifting escapades after Nigeria secured the continental title in February, the lows ought not to be forgotten.
A lapse in concentration saw Enyeama calamitously carry the ball over his own goal line in the first leg of the World Cup play-off against Ethiopia, a blunder that could have proved to be disastrous had Emmanuel Emenike not atoned with a brace.
Similarly, his fumble against Liberia during qualification for the 2013 Afcon, and his complacency against Uruguay in the Confederations Cup would have proved more memorable in different surroundings.
Despite this, the positives certainly seem to outweigh the negatives for Enyeama, so much so that Austin Ejide remains, firmly, the team’s reserve keeper.
Enyeama clearly brings a lot to the team and to the squad. He deserves great credit for his expert management and organisation of the young central defenders (Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo) that protected his net during the African Cup of Nations. The two might be talented, but along with Efe Ambrose who was shunted out to right-back, they were a potentially uncertain unit.
Beyond being an established organiser on the pitch, he is also an experienced head off it, and I imagine he is a valuable influence upon and a confident example for the many young Super Eagles that regularly populate Nigeria’s vestiaire.
I would conclude by arguing that even though Enyeama has proved himself to be a fine goalkeeper and an excellent on-field manager, it is too early to identify him as ‘World Class’.
Should Lille, who currently sit in second place in Ligue 1, qualify for the Champions League next season, we may be in a position to assess Enyeama’s performances against the world’s finest. Up to now, he has spent too much of his career away from the top end of the sport and subsequently, hasn’t been testing himself, regularly, against the game’s finest forwards.
Next summer’s World Cup provides the former Hapoel Tel Aviv man with a fine platform upon which to demonstrate his prowess.
If he can replicate his stunning showing against Lionel Messi and Argentina in 2010 then maybe the broader footballing public will begin to see Enyeama as one of the globe’s elite stoppers.
Dove writes for kickoff nigeria.com.

Enyeama in action.

Sports

Forest Embarrass Liverpool At Anfield

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Liverpool’s season of abject misery worsened as they were beaten with embarrassing ease by a hugely impressive Nottingham Forest at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s Premier League champions were looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Manchester City, but instead ran into a Forest side revitalised under new manager Sean Dyche and looking back to their best.

Liverpool head coach Slot gave £125m British record signing Alexander Isak a start, but he was totally anonymous once more and only lasted 67 minutes.

Forest went ahead after 33 minutes when defender Murillo shot powerfully past fit-again Liverpool keeper Alisson to subdue an already anxious Anfield.

Igor Jesus had a second ruled out for handball, but Forest doubled their advantage 39 seconds after the break when former Liverpool defender Neco Williams set up Nicola Savona for a crisp finish in front of The Kop.

Liverpool could barely raise a response in a desperate display, Forest increasing their lead 12 minutes from time when Morgan Gibbs-White scored after Alisson saved from Omari Hutchinson.

It means Liverpool, who lie 11th before Saturday’s late fixture, have now lost six of their past seven Premier League games as Slot’s near £450m summer spending spree comes under further scrutiny.

Forest, meanwhile, are surging away from the relegation zone and are up to 16th.

Sports

Bundesliga: Oliseh Stars As Bayern Rebound To Thrash Freiburg

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Michael Olise scored twice and provided a hat-trick of assists as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich came from two goals down to thrash Freiburg.

The visitors stunned the defending champions by taking a 2-0 lead after just 17 minutes when Yuito Suzuki scored from close range and Johan Manzambi rose highest to head home Jan-Niklas Beste’s corner.

Bayern, who had not lost in the league since March, responded superbly and had restored parity by half-time.

Teenager Lennart Karl fired into the bottom corner from Olise’s pass in the 22nd minute and set up the Frenchman for a fierce finish in first-half injury-time, although Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu should have done better.

Bayern took control in the second period as Dayot Upamecano headed home Olise’s corner to put them ahead for the first time.

England captain Harry Kane netted his 14th league goal of the campaign on the hour mark, before Olise made it three assists when he threaded a pass through for Nicolas Jackson to finish at the first time of asking in the 78th minute.

Winger Olise completed a sensational afternoon with his second of the game six minutes later, driving at the Freiburg defence and curling into the far corner.

A 10th victory in the first 11 games left Bayern eight points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, while Freiburg remain 10th in the standings.

Vincent Kompany’s side visit Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday with both sides having a perfect record of four wins so far in the league phase of the competition.

AS FAR Morocco Win African Women’s Champions League (8)

AS FAR held firm to beat debutants ASEC Mimosas 2-1 in the African Women’s Champions League final and become continental champions for the second time.

Hanane Ait El Haj put the Moroccan club ahead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute after Safa Banouk had been tripped by Aboa Yapo.

ASEC Mimosas rallied after the break and Ami Priscal Diallo netted a fine header from Sopie Brou’s cross to drag the Ivory Coast club level 10 minutes into the second half.

But AS FAR were handed a second spot-kick in the closing stages when Noura Diarra committed a rash challenge on Sofia Bouftini.

This time it was Zineb Redouani who stepped up to stroke home in the 85th minute and restore her side’s lead.

Asastasie Gbehi came close to forcing extra time but she poked wide of the post in stoppage time, and the centre-back was sent off after the full-time whistle for dissent.

AS FAR move level with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns as two-time winners of the title, having first lifted the trophy in 2022.

The Rabat-based side will now take on Chinese’s Wuhan Jiangda on 14 December for a place at next year’s Fifa Women’s Champions Cup.

The winner of that match will face European champions Arsenal in the semi-finals of the inaugural competition early next year in London.

Sports

Barca Impress On Return To Camp Nou

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Barcelona moved to the top of La Liga on Saturday with an emphatic win over 10-man Athletic Club in their first match at the Spotify Camp Nou since May 2023.

Robert Lewandowski scored their first goal back in their iconic home, which had been closed for extensive renovations, in the fourth minute.

Ferran Torres then netted twice in the second half, each assisted by wonderful skill from Lamine Yamal, who was aged just 15 in his only previous Nou Camp appearance.

Fermin Lopez also struck in the 48th minute, while visiting midfielder Oihan Sancet was sent off for a crude challenge on Lopez just six minutes later.

Large sections of the Nou Camp remained closed for the game, which was played in front of a 45,157 crowd.

The rebuilding work, which was originally scheduled to be finished in November 2024, will eventually increase the stadium’s capacity to 105,000.

Barca moved to 31 points from 13 games and top on goal difference, but Real Madrid had the chance to replace them, if they won at Elche in their game in hand, late last night.

Poland striker Lewandowski got his side off to the perfect start when he drove his low shot in off the arm of Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simon for an eighth league goal of the season.

The home side extended their lead in first-half added time as Yamal’s superb pass off the outside of his foot set up Torres for a good finish.

Lopez made it 3-0 three minutes after the restart, drilling a shot past Simon from near the penalty spot.

Sancet’s tackle from behind on Lopez was initially deemed a yellow card, but upgraded to red after the referee consulted with the video assistant referee (VAR).

And just before full-time, Yamal twisted and turned before sending Torres away to claim his second goal, which was originally disallowed for offside but overturned following a VAR check.

It was a dream return to their ground, with the reigning Spanish champions having mostly played at the 55,000 capacity Olympic Stadium on the city’s Montjuic hill since renovations on the Nou Camp began in June 2023.

They were forced to play two matches at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium, home to their women’s team, this season after failing to get a permit for the Nou Camp through safety reasons.

Pogba Returns To Action In Ligue 1 (6)

Paul Pogba played his first minutes of professional football in more than two years as he came off the bench during Monaco’s 4-1 defeat by Rennes at the weekend.

The 32-year-old was introduced in the 85th minute at Rennes’ Roazhon Park, though his side were already four goals and a player down, following a red card for captain Denis Zakaria.

French World Cup winner Pogba broke down in tears when he joined Ligue 1 club Monaco last summer, after his four-year doping ban was reduced to 19 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

Pogba’s last competitive appearance was 811 days ago, when he featured for Juventus in a Serie A match against Empoli on 3 September 2023. He left Juventus by mutual consent in November 2024.

Pogba was provisionally banned from football for four years after a positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in February 2024, following a doping test in August 2023.

Pogba maintained it was a mistake and that he was given a supplement without knowing it contained a banned substance.

The former Manchester United midfielder was permitted to return to football in March following the decision to reduce his ban.

Pogba watched from the bench as goals from Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahdi Camara, Breel Embolo and Ludovic Blas put Rennes out of sight.

Fellow substitute Mika Biereth pulled a goal back for Monaco in the 95th minute, but a second consecutive 4-1 defeat means Sebastien Pocognoli’s side drop to eighth in the table with 20 points after 13 games.