Vincent Enyeama, Nigeria the longest player in country football, has quit international football after a meeting with top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Belgium.
Enyeama’s decision did not come as a surprise after a falling-out with Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh on Tuesday night following the announcement of CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa as the country’s new captain. Earlier, the 33-year-old Lille goalkeeper, who has been Nigeria skipper since Joseph Yobo quit international football last year, vowed “not to walk out on Nigeria”.
But later the same day, Enyeama announced via Instagram he has quit the country’s team. “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,” he wrote. “Henceforth, there is laid for me a crown which only God can reward me for my 13 years of national service.
“God bless Nigeria. From henceforth, I am no more the captain of the Nigerian 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 worldwide. It’s being the most trying period of my life but I know that Nigerians are there for me and God is with me. God bless Nigeria.”
In June against Chad, Enyeama won a record-breaking 101 caps to beat a century of appearances compiled by Joseph Yobo last year. The goalkeeper featured in three FIFA World Cups™ and won the 2013 CAF Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria.
