Enyeama: Business as usual?

  
Vincent Enyeama  may have ended his international career in ignominious circumstances, but the Nigeria stopper still remains a key figure at club side LOSC Lille

It remains to be seen whether Vincent Enyeama is part of Nigeria’s history exclusively, or whether he could yet be a figure in the national side’s future.

The goalkeeper publicly retired from international duty during the international break following a fallout—or a ‘little misunderstanding’ according to the NFF—with head coach Sunday Oliseh.

If appearances are to be believed, it’s over for the legendary stopper, who was influential as Nigeria lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013.

It's true that there was a little misunderstanding in the camp of @NGSuperEagles , but the matter has been resolved. Enyeama remains in camp

— The NFF (@thenff) October 6, 2015

However, international retirements aren’t always as final as they appear, and should Enyeama return to the fold, it would not be a major surprise.

It may be that Oliseh sees the goalkeeper’s exit as part of a necessary blood-letting process and would be resistant to welcoming the potentially divisive stopper back into the squad, although it may be that necessity alone—should Carl Ikeme and the new-look defence struggle—could see Enyeama return to action.

Has Nigeria's centurion gone for good?

Regardless of his future with Nigeria, the keeper remains a key figure at club side LOSC Lille, and will doubtless have a major role to play this season as Les Dogues look to overcome an underwhelming start to the campaign.

Herve Renard replaced Rene Girard during the summer, and the Cup of Nations-winning coach has been charged with ushering in a new era at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.

It was never going to be easy; the Northern club lost the likes of Idrissa Gueye, Simon Kjaer, Marcos Lopes, Divock Origi and David Rozenhal during the summer, and it was always going to take time for Renard to turn his young team into a collective underpinned by a winning mentality.

To this end, Enyeama was clearly going to be a key man for the new coach. While some of the squad’s other veterans—men like Rio Mavuba, Florent Balmont, Franck Beria and Marko Basa—have all arguably past their prime, Enyeama, 33, is still performing at his peak.

He proved it during the early weeks of the season with a series of outstanding displays. After nine matches, Lille boast the best defensive record in the division—having conceded only four goals—with Enyeama making a collection of sublime stops. He’s always been a player who rises to the big occasion—just ask Lionel Messi—and proved this once again with an unthinkable performance in the 0-0 draw with Olympique Lyonnais in September.

Renard | Is overseeing the best defence in France

Despite possessing Moroccan forward Sofiane Boufal, one of the truly mesmerising players in Ligue 1 today, Lille have struggled to find the net and have been wholly let down by their offensive displays this season. None of Junior Tallo, Baptiste Guillaume and Yassine Benzia have convinced, and having lost the likes of Eden Hazard, Gervinho, and Salomon Kalou and over the last four years, Lillois supporters have been left dreaming of better days.

After nine matches, they have scored only four goals—the lowest in the division—and have found the net only three times in front of their own fans.

At least Renard, knowing that his defence was almost watertight, has only one area of concern.

Les Dogues’ defence has naturally deteriorated since Enyeama received a straight red card after bringing down Paul-Georges Ntep during an away match against Stade Rennais.

Enyeama | No stranger to the big occasion

His replacement, 20-year-old Mike Maignan, saved the subsequent penalty, but was beaten soon after. Since then, Maignan has performed admirably, but cannot yet match Enyeama’s character, personality, defensive organisation and shot-stopping. He has conceded two in his three-and-a-half matches since a combination of suspension and bereavement kept Enyeama away—half of Lille’s tally all season.

After serving his time on the sidelines—Enyeama hasn’t featured since the sending off—the Nigerian should be back in action this weekend as Lille travel to En Avant de Guingamp on Saturday.

The goalkeeper, without doubt, will be desperate to put a miserable week behind him and prove his worth once again for Lille.

Sir Alex Ferguson, for example, appeared to relish when his players ended their international careers in order to focus on their club careers, and he arguably got the best out of the likes of Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes once they had called time on Ireland, Wales and England respectively.

Without the distraction of international competition, Renard will hope that he can get the absolute best out of Enyeama and perhaps even extend his club career. He will surely receive a player supremely motivated and, perhaps, one who appreciates ‘getting back to business’ and making the right kind of headlines after the unhappy controversies of the international break.

There is certainly work to be done for Enyeama as he looks to re-establish Lille, who sit in 12th, as European contenders. Renard will know he has the quality to do just that, even if Oliseh may be finding out a bit too late.