Nigeria

Name: Vincent Enyeama
Age: 31
Height: 1.82m (5ft 11.5in)
Club: Lille (France)
National Appearances: 88

Enyeama has been the main number 1 for Nigeria since 2002. Enyeama was selected for the 2002 World Cup as a cover for Ike Shorunmu. He only played one match in that tournament, keeping a clean sheet against England, and took over the spot after Shorunmu’s international retirement. Since then he has been the first-choice goalkeeper for the national team, playing in the 2004 African Cup of Nations, 2006 African Cup of Nations, and indeed all African Cup of Nations till 2013 except for the 2008 edition in Ghana where he lost his position to Austin Ejide.

Vincent Enyeama justified claims as one of the best shot-stoppers in football at the moment, with a defiant display to restrict Argentina to a 1–0 win in their Group B 2010 FIFA World Cup match. Enyeama, who was playing his 56th international for the Super Eagles, made six fine saves, four of them from Lionel Messi, and was the major reason for Nigeria coming so close to almost pinching a draw against the two-time world champions. Argentine coach Maradona praised him as the reason Leo Messi was not able to score a goal.

This season whilst playing for Lille, Enyeama has played 36 games, keeping 21 clean sheets and making over 90 saves. Enyeama is a strong character with strong reflexes, good concentration, strong in saving penalties and close range shots however is known to struggle dealing with crosses.

Ike Shorunmu has tipped Vincent Enyeama for success at the forthcoming World Cup in Brazil. He was speaking after Enyeama had been nominated by the French players association.

Name: Austin Ejide
Age: 30
Height: 1.89 (6ft 2.5in)
Club: Hapoel Be’er Sheva (Isreal)
National Appearances: 25

Austin Ejide was named in Nigeria’s squad for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He has been a member of the Super Eagles at international tournaments since the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), mostly as second-choice keeper after Vincent Enyeama. However in the 2008 AFCON hosted in Ghana, Berti Vogts chose him ahead of Vincent Enyeama in all of Super Eagles’ four games. On 21 January 2008, he played his first AFCON game as Nigeria lost 2–1 to Côte d’Ivoire in the first match of Group B. However, he kept a clean sheet in Nigeria’s 0–0 draw with Mali and 2–0 win over Benin.

Ejide is considered to be weak with penalties, as well as also being less strong and composed as other within the Nigeria team.