Former Nigerian goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has been named the greatest African goalkeeper of all time by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
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Enyeama was recognized for his outstanding performances for both club and country over a career spanning more than a decade, which included playing for clubs such as Enyimba International, Bnei Yehuda, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Lille.
Enyeama was also a vital part of the Nigerian national team that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, and he represented the country in three World Cup tournaments. The IFFHS is a non-profit organization that ranks the performance of football players and coaches worldwide.
Enyeama’s selection as the best African goalkeeper of all time places him ahead of other legendary goalkeepers from the continent, such as Joseph-Antoine Bell, Thomas N’Kono, and Essam El-Hadary.
Enyeama’s exceptional career as a goalkeeper is supported by his numerous individual awards, including being named the best goalkeeper in the Israeli Premier League three times and the best goalkeeper in Ligue 1 during the 2013-2014 season.
Additionally, he holds the record for the most clean sheets in a season in the French top flight, with 21 shutouts during the 2013-2014 campaign.
Enyeama is often recognized as Nigeria’s greatest goalkeeper and is considered by many as Lille’s finest goalkeeper of all time. This recognition of Enyeama’s talents and contributions to the game of football is significant, as it serves as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging the accomplishments of footballers beyond the major leagues in Europe and South America.
The IFFHS All-Time Ranking, which covers the period from 1987 to 2022, also includes the best goalkeepers from other regions, such as Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) for UEFA, Jose Luis Chilavert (Paraguay) for CONMEBOL, Mohamed Abdullaziz Al-Deayea (Saudi Arabia) for AFC, Keylor Navas (Costa Rica) for CONCACAF, and Mark Bosnich (Australia) for Oceania.