Sports

Is Enyeama World Class Keeper?

Published

10 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

Finidi Lists Three Foreign Assistants For Eagles

Published

2 days ago

May 10, 2024

The Tide

Newly appointed Super Eagles coach, Finidi George, has listed three foreigners in a five-man technical crew that will include former Nigeria International Daniel Amokachi and current goalkeepers trainer, Abideen Baruwa.
George and chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) have been meeting over the last few days to iron out the final details of a contract for the former Ajax Amsterdam winger who was recently announced as the substantive manager of the national team following the departure of Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro after the silver-medal finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
The issue of others that would work with George has dominated discussions in sports circles but sources at the NFF has now hinted that the 52-year-old coach has tabled a proposal of five technical crew with words rife that a German-Nigerian has been listed as first assistant with Amokachi to be a second assistant.
While Baruwa would maintain his status as the goalkeepers trainer, there are places for two more foreign assistants who would serve as physical trainer and match analyst respectively.
Yet, it was gathered that a one-year contact will be signed by George with an extension clause should the Super Eagles reach the semi-final stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) to be hosted in Morocco.
Tidesports gathered that the NFF is yet at sea on how funds would be sourced for the foreign assistants with many said to be worried that George is making things rather difficult as regards the listing of three foreign assistants.
But former Nigeria international and a member of the Technical & Development Committee of the NFF Dr. Felix Owolabi insists that George is duty-bound to pick his own assistants in order to enjoy a good working environment.
“He (George) should be allowed to pick his assistants because that is the right thing to do,” Owolabi who won the AFCON with the Green Eagles in 1980 said recently. “ The NFF cannot choose for him; it has to be the prerogative of the coach to determine those who are to work with him.”

Sports

Bayelsa To Host 2024 NWFL Super Six Tournament

Published

2 days ago

May 10, 2024

The Tide

The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has announced Bayelsa State as the hosts of the 2023/2024 NWFL Premiership Super Six.
The highly anticipated NWFL Premiership title championship is scheduled to run from Thursday May 16 to Sunday 26, 2023 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Bayelsa was confirmed as host by the NWFL last Tuesday following a review of bid interests from various states to stage the playoff competition.
Nkechi Obi, the NWFL chairman, said: “On behalf of the board and management of the NWFL, let me congratulate Bayelsa State for being selected as the hosts for the NWFL Premiership Super Six.”
“We hope this opportunity to host a great Super Six will further boost women’s football in Bayelsa and raise the profile of the sport in Nigeria.”
This will be the first time that the NWFL Premiership playoff tournament will be hosted by Bayelsa State. Yenagoa is also the home ground of Bayelsa Queens, who had a memorable 2022 NWFL Premiership campaign where they famously won the domestic title, WAFU-B playoff and eventually finished third at the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League held in Morocco.
Shabi said the participating clubs are expected to arrive in Yenagoa on Thursday, May 16 2024, followed by the draw and pre-match meeting to be held on Friday, May 17 from 10 am.
The playoff tournament would begin on Saturday, May 18 with Matchday One and end with the Matchday Five on Sunday, May 26. Three matches will be played on each Match Day, with breaks in between match days.
With holders Delta Queens missing out, six giants will battle for the coveted Nigerian league crown, having qualified as the top three finishers from two groups during the regular season of 14 matches.
The six teams include the host team Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Confluence Queens, Nasarawa Amazons and Heartland Queens.
In Group A, Nasarawa Amazons finished as group winners with 27 points from 14 matches, followed by Confluence Queens in second with 25 points and Heartland Queens in third with 24 points.
Sitting top in Group B was Rivers Angels with 27 points, four ahead of Edo Queens in second and Bayelsa Queens in third with 22 points from 14 games.
The title winner of this year’s Super Six tournament will represent the country in the WAFU-B qualifiers to qualify for the 4th CAF Women’s Champions League.

Sports

Legal Threat Hangs On FIFA Over Calendar

Published

2 days ago

May 10, 2024

The Tide

World governing body, FIFA is facing the threat of legal action from world players’ union, FIFPro and the World Leagues Association, which includes the Premier League, if it continues with plans to host a 32-team Club World Cup at the end of next season.
They say the global football calendar is “now beyond saturation, to the point that national leagues are unable to properly organise their competitions” while “players are being pushed beyond their limits, with significant injury risks and impacts on their welfare”.
It was reported in December that the PFA was taking legal advice over the lack of consultation over an increasingly congested calendar and the impact that was likely to have on its members.
PFA chief executive Maheta Molango has been part of a series of high-level discussions over the intervening period, including the European Leagues general assembly last month, when Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the calendar was at tipping point.
Next season, all three European club competitions will be expanded to 36 teams. The Champions League and Europa League will have eight first phase games compared to the current six. It is possible a club would have to play 17 matches to win either competition.
Manchester City and Chelsea are among the 12 European representatives at the expanded Club World Cup, to be held in the United States in June and July next year.
In a letter addressed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and general secretary Mattias Grafstrom, seen by Tidesports source, FIFPro and the World Leagues Association say if FIFA extends its own competitions then it should alter others.
It adds that “imposing the burden of adaptation on national leagues and players is inherently abusive” and is “jeopardising national leagues and affecting the health and wellbeing of players”.
However, it is understood that FIFA believes it has taken into account player welfare with their scheduling programme.
It argues that, in a country that has an 18-team league with one cup competition – like Germany – the Club World Cup and Intercontinental Cup would only account for 2.3per cent of matches played at club level over the course of the season.
It also believes the influential European Clubs’ Association backed the Club World Cup plans in a statement in December.
FIFPro and the World Leagues Association believe they have already provided FIFA with ample opportunity to address their concerns.
However, in their letter they state clearly that if FIFA “refuses to formally commit to resolving the issues” at its council meeting in Bangkok on 17 May, members will be advised “on the options available to them”.
“These options included legal action against FIFA,” they said.
The FIFA council meeting in Thailand will see all 211 member associations get together, with a vote on the host nation or nations of the 2027 Women’s World Cup set to take place.
The threat of legal action against FIFA comes against a backdrop of Premier League clubs announcing lucrative post and pre-season tours.
Yesterday, West Ham, Wolves and Crystal Palace announced a three-team pre-season tour of the United States, while Newcastle and Tottenham will play one another in Melbourne, Australia just three days after the end of the Premier League season.
Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Bournemouth will all tour the United States next summer.