Former Super Eagles captain and Lille legend Vincent Enyeama is set to make a surprise return to the pitch in a special charity match in France.
The 42-year-old former Lille and Nigeria goalkeeper will lace up his boots once more for the Match des Héros, an exhibition game aimed at raising awareness about school bullying.
The match is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, at the Stade de l’Épopée in Calais, and is expected to draw a record-breaking crowd.
This unexpected return will see Enyeama reunite with former Lille star Ludovic Obraniak, along with football greats Daniel Van Buyten and Souleymane Diawara. The match will also feature social media influencers, adding an exciting twist to the highly anticipated event.
Back in the 2013/14 season, he came within 114 minutes of breaking the all-time Ligue 1 clean sheet record, keeping an astonishing 11 consecutive clean sheets and going 1,062 minutes without conceding a goal.
Ex Super Eagles captain Enyeama during his playing days with Lille. Photo Credit: Imago
From Hero to Exile – and Now, a Comeback!
Enyeama’s journey at Lille had its highs and lows. After joining the club in 2011, he initially struggled for game time and even spent a loan spell at Maccabi Tel Aviv. But when given the opportunity, he delivered one of the greatest goalkeeping performances in French football history.
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Despite his success, his time at Lille ended controversially after a falling-out with the club’s management. He was frozen out during the 2017/18 season, leading to his eventual departure in 2018.
A brief attempt at a return with Dijon in 2019 didn’t materialize, and he officially retired in 2020 after nearly two decades at the top level.
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Widely regarded as one of Africa’s best goalkeepers of all time, Enyeama won back-to-back CAF Champions League titles with Enyimba, captained Nigeria to AFCON glory in 2013, and remains one of the country’s most decorated players.
With 101 caps, he was Nigeria’s most-capped player until Ahmed Musa surpassed his record in 2021. Now, after years away from the spotlight, Enyeama is back only for one match.
