LAGOS- A former Captain of the Green Eagles, Segun Odegbami, said on Wednesday that Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama deserved to be nominated for the BBC African Footballer of the Year Award.
Odegbami, a member of the Green Eagles squad that won the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Lagos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that Enyeama had been consistent.
• Cue in audio
“I think that Vincent Enyeama deserves it; he has been probably the most consistent African goalkeeper.
“And he has been so impressive that I thought he should have been nominated during the last award.
“If one Nigerian deserves it, he’s the one; but since then, things have changed a little bit.
“I see that he is still maintaining his influence from last season; and that’s why perhaps he has been nominated again. I think he deserves it.“
• Cue out audio
Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire), the current holder, has been nominated for the sixth consecutive year, along with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Garbon), Yacine Brahimi, Vincent Enyeama, and Gervinho (Cote d’Ivoire).
The winner of the award will be decided by fans of African football, who have until 18:00 GMT on Monday, Nov. 24 to vote for their choice.
The winner will be announced on Dec. 1.
Four of the nominees played at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where for the first time in the tournament’s history, two African sides made it out of the group phase.
Goalkeeper Enyeama played in the last 16 of the tournament with Nigeria, while Brahimi reached the same stage with Algeria.
Enyeama, 32, went into the event off the back of an outstanding campaign for French club Lille where he kept 21 clean sheets for them last season.
Three Nigerians, Nwankwo Kanu and Austin J.J. Okocha had won the award twice, respectively, and Emmanuel Amuneke.(NAN)
banker of the day - FREE banker tips from experts