The former Nigeria international celebrated much of his success as a goalkeeper in Israel, where he is considered one of the country’s greatest goalkeepers, but he also left a lasting mark in France.
Sunday 3 December 2023 marks 10 years since legendary Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyema made Ligue 1 history with an astonishing 1,062 minutes without conceding a goal. , reports Soccernet.ng.
Lille remains in awe of the amazing achievement of “Spider Enyaman” and celebrated the anniversary of this amazing achievement on its official website.
Enyeama’s Journey to Immortality
Vincent Enyeama’s journey with LOSC began on July 1, 2011, joining from Hapoel Tel Aviv, where he won the Israeli League and Cup double in 2010.
Enyeama spent the 2011/12 season with Lille as a reserve goalkeeper and was also sent to Israel on loan to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 2012/13 season.
After helping Maccabi Tel Aviv win the Israeli Premier League and captaining Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, he returned to France in 2013.
After an outstanding year, Lille manager René Girard gave Enyeama the coveted role of the team’s number one goalkeeper for the 2013-2014 season.
The then-Nigerian national team player, along with the defense of Sidibe, Keir, Basa, and Beria, formed an impenetrable wall in front of him and frustrated the opponent’s attacking team.
11 unbeaten matches – A wall that stood tall
From September 15, 2013 to December 3, 2013, Enyeama recorded 11 consecutive clean sheets, defeating Sochaux, Lyon, Monaco and Marseille.
The winning streak ended on December 8, 2013 against Bordeaux, but its impact endured and cemented his place in history.
Accolades and achievements
During this special period, Enyeama was awarded the Player of the Month trophy for October and November, the Marc-Vivian Foet Award for the best African player in Ligue 1, and the Best Goalkeeper for the 2013-2014 season. He received several awards, including the title.
LOSC had the second best defense in Ligue 1 and finished the season in third place, conceding just 26 goals.
Legacy at LOSC
Vincent Enyeama’s tenure at LOSC lasted from 26 October 2011 to 15 April 2017, making 164 appearances and keeping an impressive 65 clean sheets.
He became the second most used foreign goalkeeper in the club’s history, behind Senegal’s Toni Silva.
As Lille remember this historic feat, Enyeama’s influence on the club and his status as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of Ligue 1 will never be forgotten. It’s something without.
