Enyeama now No.1 at Lille

AUGUST 1, 2013 

Vincent Enyeama

Nigeria international, Vincent Enyeama, has been declared first-choice goalkeeper at French Ligue 1 side, Lille Metropole for the 2013/14 season.

According to L’Equipe, Lille manager, Rene Girard, has decided to put Enyeama ahead of Frenchman, Steeve Elana in the pecking order of goalkeepers at the club.

“Vincent Enyeama (30 years) will be the number one goalkeeper of Lille next season as René Girard has decided,” reportedL’Equipe on Wednesday.

In the wake of the development, Nigeria goalkeepers trainer, Ike Shorunmu said he was not surprised that Enyeama has been elevated to number one at Lille.

“Honestly I’m happy for him and it shows that he is our best and one of the best in Africa and the world at the moment. I am not surprised that he is now number one at his club,” Shorunmu was quoted as saying onsupersport.com.

“You know every coach has different philosophy or plan, so I believe his present coach feels Enyeama is good enough to be number one and I am happy that has happened and it is an advantage to us at the national team.”

Since joining Lille in 2011, Enyeama played second-choice to Mickael Landreau before he went on loan to Maccabi Tel-Aviv last season.

After Landreau’s departure to Bastia in January this year, Elana became number one while Enyeama was away on loan.

This latest news has put an end to the club future of Enyeama, who had already been linked with a likely return to Israel.