ZUL-HAJJ 14 1430 A.H.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 1 2009.
Print This Page 
Enyeama: World Cup ticket over record
Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama says he would have gladly traded his 9 clean sheets record if it had meant Nigeria grabbing the 2010 World Cup ticket with less heartache.
Enyeama went eight straight games for the Super Eagles without conceding, pulling off a string of at least two top drawer saves in almost every game as the Super Eagles went the entire qualifying series unbeaten.
But he told KickOffNigeria.com that, impressive as the record was, it pales into insignificance when put against the World Cup ticket.
"I know it is not easy to go 9 games without conceding a goal, and for a goalkeeper that is something to be proud of," Enyeama said.
"But for me, the important thing was to make sure that I do my best to help my country qualify for the World Cup.
"If we hadnt qualified, the clean sheets would mean nothing. In fact, I would prefer to have the ticket without the stress than get the record."
Enyeama was restored to the Super Eagles starting team by Shuaibu Amodu after enduring an inexplicably miserable spell under Berti Vogts, and proceeded to keep clean sheets against for the first four games of the first round of 2010 World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifying.
He sat out the last two games against South Africa and Sierra Leone, when the Eagles conceded for the first time in six games.
He returned for the second round and kept another three clean sheets, against Mozambique, Kenya and Tunisia.
In between, he missed the 1-1 draw with Ireland and returned for the 1-0 win over France, where he made two spectacular stops, including an almost certain goal in a 1v1 against Frank Ribery when he saved at the foot of the Bayern Munich winger.
His first goals of the campaign were conceded in the 2-2 draw against Tunisia, before he let took his clean sheets tally to 9 against Mozambique.
