The Nigeria legend has hailed the man who took up from where he left off for his deserved inclusion among the 50 best players in the world
By Lolade Adewuyi
Former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai has praised the inclusion of Vincent Enyeama in the Goal 50 announced on Monday.
The Lille goalkeeper was the only Nigeria player that was included in the list of 50 best players in the world during the 2013/14 season and he finished in 27th place. (See Enyeama's Goal 50 entry)
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Rufai said it is an accolade that his protégé has rightly earned, seeing that he had a great year where he kept clean sheets over 1062 consecutive minutes in the French top division and his form saw the Super Eagles qualify for the World Cup and reach the second round with two shut outs.
Enyeama, 31, took over the role of Nigeria’s goalkeeper in 2002, four years after Rufai played his last World Cup match for the Super Eagles and has held on since.
“I’m not surprised about [his inclusion in the Goal 50] because Enyeama is a good goalkeeper,” Rufai told Goal.
“He has proven his skills, he has proven his worth and he has proven that he can be reckoned with and shown consistency.
“He has done very well, Enyeama is outstanding,” Rufai concluded.
With the Super Eagles’ match to the second round in Brazil, Enyeama equaled the eight World Cup matches played by Rufai, even though the legend played one less tournament.