Nigeria and Lille great Vincent Enyeama. Photo by IMAGO
Five years after hanging up his gloves, former Super Eagles captain and Lille legend Vincent Enyeama is set to step onto the pitch once again, Soccernet.ng reports.
The revered goalkeeper will take part in a special charity match in France, according to Le Petit Lillois, marking a rare return for one of Africa’s finest shot-stoppers,
Enyeama, now 42, will feature in the Match des Héros, an exhibition fixture organised to raise awareness for the fight against school bullying.
The event, set to take place on Saturday, April 26 at the Stade de l’Épopée in Calais, is expected to attract a record-breaking crowd for a National 3 match.
The charity game, held before the RC Calais vs. LOSC clash, will see Enyeama reunited with another Lille great, Ludovic Obraniak, as well as football veterans Daniel Van Buyten and Souleymane Diawara. Social media influencers will also participate, adding to the spectacle.
For Enyeama, this one-off return is more than just a nostalgic run-out. It’s a chance to once again showcase the brilliance that made him a cult hero at Lille, where he famously came within 114 minutes of breaking the all-time Ligue 1 clean sheet record in the 2013–14 season.
Enyeama enjoyed one of the finest spells of his career at Lille. After joining the club in 2011, he had to wait for his moment, even spending a loan spell at Maccabi Tel Aviv. But when given the chance, he seized it in spectacular fashion.
During the 2013–14 Ligue 1 season, Enyeama delivered a goalkeeping masterclass, keeping 11 consecutive clean sheets and going 1,062 minutes without conceding a goal. His breathtaking form helped Lille qualify for the Champions League playoffs, sealing his status as one of the club’s all-time greats.
However, his time in France ended on a sour note. A falling-out with the club’s management saw him sidelined in the 2017–18 season, and by 2018, he parted ways with Lille. He briefly attempted a return with Dijon in 2019 but ultimately retired in 2020, bringing an end to an illustrious career spanning nearly two decades.
Enyeama is widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest goalkeepers. A two-time CAF Champions League winner with Enyimba, he captained Nigeria to AFCON glory in 2013 and remains one of the country’s most decorated players.
His 101 caps for the Super Eagles made him Nigeria’s most-capped player until Ahmed Musa surpassed him in 2021. Now, fans in France will have a rare chance to see him in action once more.
Tickets for the Match des Héros are priced at €10, with proceeds going towards the fight against bullying. It may only be for one game, but for Enyeama and his fans, it’s a golden opportunity to relive the magic.
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