Iconic Nigeria goalkeeper
Vincent Enyeama has
announced his international
retirement.
Nigeria icon Vincent Enyeama
has announced his retirement
from international football
after a career that saw him
win 101 caps.
The 33-year-old Lille shot-
stopper has had a fractured
relationship with new head
coach Sunday Oliseh, a feud
which came to a head this
week.
Enyeama had arrived at the
Super Eagles' training camp in
Belgium late having had extra
time off agreed following the
death of his mother. However,
he arrived to find he had been
stripped of the captaincy,
which had instead been
handed to Ahmed Musa.
Reports then suggested
Enyeama had been expelled
from Nigeria's training camp
in Belgium on Wednesday, but
the Nigerian Football
Federation (NFF) came out to
describe the incident as a
"misunderstanding which has
now been resolved".
Enyeama has now removed
himself from the squad,
though, bringing an end to a
Nigeria career that saw him
play in three World Cups.
He wrote on Instagram: "I
have fought a good fight for
more than 13 years. I have
finished my course, I have
kept the faith and sang the
anthem with passion.
"Henceforth, there is laid for
me a crown which only God
can reward me for my 13
years of national
service. Henceforth, I am no
more the captain of the
Nigeria senior football team, I
am no more the goalie of the
team, I am out of the team. I
am no more available for
international duties.
"I want to say thank you to
every Nigerian fan and
supporter world wide. It has
been the most trying period
of my life but I know that
Nigerians are there for me
and God is with me. God bless
Nigeria."
Enyeama, who also
represented Nigeria in five
Africa Cup of Nations
tournaments, said it had been
an extremely difficult time for
him.
He added to BBC Sport: "It has
been the most difficult period
of my life, losing my mother
and the emotion.
"After playing for the Super
Eagles for 13 years, you never
think that it would end like
this but the time has come.
"There is never a good time to
leave but I will always be a fan
of the Super Eagles and
Nigerian football.
"I played at three World Cups,
won the Africa Cup of Nations
and fought alongside brave
compatriots so I am leaving
on a high."
