Nigerian goalkeeping legend Vincent Enyeama is set for a triumphant return
Several years after calling time on his illustrious career, former Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama is set to grace the pitch again in a special charity match in France.
The legendary shot-stopper will feature in the Match des Heros, an exhibition game dedicated to raising awareness for the fight against school bullying.
A special return for a Lille icon
Enyeama, now 42, remains one of Lille's most celebrated goalkeepers, having played a crucial role in the club's success during his time in Ligue 1.
The charity match, set to take place at the Stade de l'Épopée in Calais on April 26, will see him reunite with Lille legend Ludovic Obraniak, as well as former stars Daniel Van Buyten and Souleymane Diawara.
Adding to the spectacle, social media influencers will also take part in the highly anticipated game, which is expected to attract a record-breaking crowd for a National 3 match.
Tickets for the Match des Héros are priced at €10, with proceeds going towards the fight against bullying, while Enyeama also gets a return to the country where he came close to breaking Ligue 1's all-time clean sheet record in the 2013-14 season, going 1,062 minutes without conceding a goal.
Enyeama's stellar career
Enyeama joined Lille in 2011 from Hapoel Tel Aviv and after a loan spell at Maccabi Tel Aviv, he returned to France and delivered a goalkeeping masterclass in the 2013-14 season, keeping 11 consecutive clean sheets.
His time in France, however, ended on a sour note following a dispute with the club's management, which led to his departure in 2018. Despite a brief attempt at a comeback with Dijon in 2019, he officially retired in 2020, closing the chapter on a career that spanned nearly two decades.
Regarded as one of Africa's greatest goalkeepers, Enyeama was a two-time CAF Champions League winner with Enyimba and captained Nigeria to AFCON glory in 2013.
With 101 international caps, he was Nigeria's most-capped player until Ahmed Musa surpassed him in 2021. Now, fans in France will have a chance to see him in action again, even if just for one night.
Comments