Former Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama eyes NPFL return, targets hometown club

The former Lille LOSC shot-stopper quit active professional football nearly half a decade ago following an incredibly successful career abroad

Two-time CAF Champions League winner Vincent Enyeama has hinted at the possibility of making a sensational return to the Nigeria Professional Football League 17 years after leaving the local scene.

Enyeama made his breakthrough at Ibom Stars before joining Enyimba in 2001. The goalkeeper won three league titles and two continental honours with the Aba Elephants.

He spent another year at Iwuanyanwu Nationale before leaving for Israel in 2005 to team up with Bnei Yehuda.

Thirteen years of incredible European success ended when Enyeama played his last match for French side Lille II in 2018.

Four years after, though, the former Hapoel Tel Aviv goalie is looking to return to competitive football.

Enyeama, who turned 40 last week, confesses a desire to play for any NPFL club for free, his favourite being Akwa United.

“It's really interesting, yes it is, and I miss football,” Enyeama said in an interview on Uyo's Comfort 95.1 FM, as per Fagenwa Sanni.

“So I would like to return to it, first with a team here in France, because I trained here in Lille and back when I was in Akwa Ibom.

“And I will come back to Nigeria next year. So if Akwa United needs a goalkeeper for 4-5 months, yes, I have the opportunity to play for free.”

One of Nigeria's greatest-ever goalkeepers, Enyeama was named the IFFHS CAF Men's Team of the Decade between 2011 and 2020.

In 2020, the former Maccabi Tel Aviv goalie took up the role of a goalkeeper coach with French National 3 club side Iris Club de Croix.