…Says He Has Forgiven Sunday Oliseh
…Rejected Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs offer
By Akinwale Kasali
After five years of parting ways with National team, the Super Eagles, the nation’s Safe Hand in between the poles, Vincent Enyeama, has finally opened up on the main reasons he quit.
When the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, parted ways with Super Eagles Coach, Late Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, after the team’s failure to defend its 2013 African Cup of Nations triumph in South Africa, having been booted out in the Qualification series for 2015 AFCON tournament in Equaitorial Guinea, Keshi was sacked.
His sack paved the way for former Super Eagles Captain, Sunday Oliseh, to come on board as the new gaffer.
Oliseh’s first outing for the Super Eagles as Coach was an away 2017 AFCON qualification match against Southern African country, Tanzania in Dares Salam, during which he gave call-ups to Izunna Ugochukwu, Carl Ikeme, Moses Simon, Dele Alampasu recalling Haruna Lukman and the likes.
Enyeama wasn’t called, with Oliseh claiming Enyeama’s time was gradually coming to an end.
He collected the Captain armsband from Enyeama to Ahmed Musa, to the disappointment of Enyeama who queried such action.
There was a face-off between Enyeama and Oliseh in Belgium during the friendly matches between Cote d’ Ivoire and Cameroon, over certain decisions of Coach Oliseh, which was targeted at ridiculing Enyeama, with the NFF interfering.
But, that was the last straw that broke the Camel’s back, as Enyeama announced his retirement from International Football, having recorded over 100 Caps for the Super Eagles.
Enyeama has, however, said that he has ‘nothing’ against former coach Oliseh despite the row which led to his exit from the Super Eagles.
The stripping of former Lille goalie of his Captain’s armband by Oliseh after he took charge, to Ahmed Musa, really got the 2013 AFCON winning goalkeeper annoyed, intimidated and disappointed.
The decision abruptly ended the international career spanning 13 years.
“I have nothing against Oliseh. What happened in the past is in the past,” Enyeama told Super Eagles media in a live Instagram chat.
Enyeama disclosed that he rejected offers from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur because he was seeking regular playing time.
According to Enyeama, both Premier League clubs wanted him as a second choice goalkeeper.
The 37-year-old said he was keen on having regular playing time, and his snub made Arsenal to sign goalkeeper, David Ospina, who joined Napoli permanently last year after impressing on loan.
“Arsenal wanted me as a second choice, but I was not interested,” Enyeama told ESPN.
“I also had an offer from Tottenham Hotspur that wanted me as a second choice, and I was not interested.
“It was after the 2006 AFCON and then again around the 2014 FIFA World Cup. When I turned them down, Arsenal now went on to sign David Ospina.
“For me, I was at the stage where I preferred playing even if it was for one of the smallest clubs.
“That’s what the agents that were involved told me, that Arsene Wenger wanted me at Arsenal, but he is not so sure because of my height and things like that.
“People have their choices, and I respect their choices,” he said.
