Super Eagles Star Ikechukwu Ezenwa Reveals His Goalkeeping Role Model

Heartland glovesman Ikechukwu Ezenwa has revealed that Nigeria's most capped player in history, Vincent Enyeama is his goalkeeping role model.

Ezenwa confessed that he used to imitate the three-time World Cupper during his formative years as a footballer, adding that he still receives tips on how to become a better goalkeeper from the former Lille, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv star.

Ezenwa rose through the Nigeria ranks, from the U20 to the U23, before becoming the Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in which he was in goal on four occasions.

 

In the latest Super Eagles YouTube series, 'The Footballer and his making, Ezenwa said : "My favourite goalkeeper that gives me motivation is Vincent Enyeama because the first time in the Premier League, in 2006, when I signed my first professional contract, everything he did then when he was at Enyimba, that's the same way I was dressing - the cutting of jersey and every other thing.

"I love him so much, he's my mentor, even to this day I keep talking to him, trying to learn more from him because from watching him play for the country he gives me so much joy because there is this charisma in him.

"You will never see him panic, the confidence in him he that carries to a game is what I've always learned from him and I think it's paying off for me and he's a man I will never forget."

Ezenwa was part of the Super Eagles squads to the 2018 World Cup and last summer's Africa Cup of Nations, and represented the country at the 2007 FIFA U20 World Cup.

Igho Kingsley