Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, says
he will retire from the Super Eagles after the
Africa Cup of Nations in 2017.
He said he had been on the scene since 2002,
adding that there was every reason for him to
give way for others to take over.
Interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in
Abuja on Monday, Enyeama, who is also the
Super Eagles captain, explained that the desire to
give younger goalkeepers the opportunity to
develop themselves informed his decision to
retire from the national team.
“I can’t keep doing the same thing forever; there
is going to be a time I have to stop and give it up
to some other persons.
“I am the only face here since 2002, but 2017
Nations Cup finals will be my last game. I just
said my target, anything can happen after,” he
added.
The Eagles goal tender explained that the
immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State,
Godswill Akpabio, prevented him from retiring
from the team after it failed to qualify for the
2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
Enyeama told the NAN that his wife and pastor
also prevailed on him to drop the plan.
The Lille of France safe hands said, “I actually
wanted to stop, it wasn’t a rumour. Nigeria is
blessed with great goalkeepers, just that we need
to give them confidence.
“Nobody gave me a chance when I started, I was
a rookie also; I belt it up, I worked hard for it and
became the big person that nobody wants to
lose.
“What changed my mind was the passion of
Nigerians. I had a lot of calls, my governor,
Akpabio.
“A lot of people talked with me. These things,
you don’t just ignore and my wife also talked
with me.
“My wife didn’t want me to leave yet. I talked
with my pastor and he said if everybody said
stay, why not. So, I decided to continue, but then,
there is going to be a time to call it quits.”