From being regarded as one of the best goalkeepers on the African continent, Vincent Enyeama is now also considered one of European football’s finest, reports Oluwashina Okeleji of BBC Sport.
He cemented his reputation with a string of fine performances for French side Lille last season and set some impressive records.
The 32-year-old Nigerian kept 11 consecutive clean sheets in Ligue 1 matches during the first half of the 2013-14 season.
In total, he achieved 21 shut-outs last term – more than any other goalkeeper in the top five European leagues.
Deserved recognition followed when in May he became the first goalkeeper to be named French Ligue 1 African Player of the Season.
He carried his superb form into this year’s World Cup in Brazil, making a number of key saves in four matches – and he was named the fourth best goalkeeper at the tournament.
The charismatic number one is revelling in his new-found spotlight and has started the new season in superb form, both in Ligue 1 and the Europa League.
He won back-to-back African Champions League titles in 2003 and 2004 with Nigerian side Enyimba and then claimed the Israeli league and two cups with Hapoel Tel Aviv.
