Vincent Enyeama set to play football again in France
Five years after his last active football engagement, former Super Eagles captain and Lille legend Vincent Enyeama is set to make a return to the pitch.
The respected goalkeeper will participate in a special charity match in France, according to Le Petit Lillois, marking a rare comeback for one of Africa’s top shot-stoppers.
Now 42, Enyeama will play in the Match des Héros, an exhibition match organised to raise awareness about the fight against school bullying.
The event, scheduled for Saturday, April 26 at the Stade de l’Épopée in Calais, is expected to draw a record crowd for a National 3 match.
The charity game, which will take place before the RC Calais vs. LOSC fixture, will see Enyeama reunite with another Lille legend, Ludovic Obraniak, as well as football veterans Daniel Van Buyten and Souleymane Diawara. Social media influencers will also take part, adding to the excitement.
For Enyeama, this return is more than just a nostalgic appearance. It’s an opportunity to showcase once again the brilliance that made him a cult hero at Lille, where he famously came close to breaking the all-time Ligue 1 clean sheet record in the 2013–14 season, falling short by just 114 minutes.
Enyeama enjoyed one of the best periods of his career at Lille. After joining the club in 2011, he had to wait for his chance, even spending time on loan at Maccabi Tel Aviv. But when the opportunity came, he seized it spectacularly.
During the 2013–14 Ligue 1 season, Enyeama produced a goalkeeping masterclass, keeping 11 consecutive clean sheets and going 1,062 minutes without conceding a goal. His impressive performances helped Lille qualify for the Champions League playoffs, cementing his place as one of the club’s greatest players.
However, his time in France ended on a sour note. A falling-out with the club’s management saw him sidelined during the 2017–18 season, and by 2018, he left Lille. He briefly tried to return with Dijon in 2019, but ultimately retired in 2020, ending a distinguished career that spanned nearly two decades.
Enyeama is widely considered one of Africa’s greatest goalkeepers. A two-time CAF Champions League winner with Enyimba, he captained Nigeria to AFCON glory in 2013 and remains one of the country’s most decorated players.
With 101 caps for the Super Eagles, he was Nigeria’s most-capped player until Ahmed Musa surpassed him in 2021. Now, fans in France will have a rare chance to see him play again.
Tickets for the Match des Héros are priced at €10, with proceeds going towards the fight against bullying. Though it’s just one game, for Enyeama and his fans, it’s a unique opportunity to relive the magic.
