Vincent Enyeama became the first Nigerian, the first goalkeeper and first player from English speaking Africa to be named France’s Ligue 1 African player of the season on Monday.
The 31-year-old, who is set to feature at the World Cup finals for his country in June, has played all 37 championship games for his club Lille this season conceding just 25 goals.
At one point this season — which comes to an end next weekend — he went 1,062 minutes without conceding a goal in the championship.
Enyeama impressed football enthusiasts by keeping a clean sheet for 11 consecutive matches (1062 minutes).
With 82 caps to his credit in the national team, he helped the Super Eagles to win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and will be playing with them in the World Cup in Brazil.
The Trophy for the Best African Ligue 1 player was renamed the Marc-Vivien Foé Award in 2011 in tribute to the Cameroonian player who died aged 28 of a heart attack during the 2003 Confederations Cup semi-final at Lyon's Gerland Stadium on June 26th 2003.
With 82 caps to his credit in the national team, he helped the Super Eagles to win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and will be playing with them in the World Cup in Brazil.
The Trophy for the Best African Ligue 1 player was renamed the Marc-Vivien Foé Award in 2011 in tribute to the Cameroonian player who died aged 28 of a heart attack during the 2003 Confederations Cup semi-final at Lyon's Gerland Stadium on June 26th 2003.
He beat Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier, who plays for Toulouse, and Lyon’s Cameroon defender Henri Bedimo.
Enyeama, who captained Nigeria to Africa Cup of Nations success last year, succeeds Borussia Dortmund’s Gabonese international striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who won it after a successful season with St Etienne last season.
The Nigerian had lost the Professional Footballers Union (UNFP) best goalkeeper award on Sunday evening to Paris Saint Germain's Salvatore Sirigu.
Previous winners of the RFI-France 24 Marc Vivien Foe trophy are Marouane Chamakh 2009 (Morocco), Gervinho 2010 & 2011 (Ivory Coast), Younès Belhanda 2012 (Morocco) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon) in 2013.
Previous winners of the RFI-France 24 Marc Vivien Foe trophy are Marouane Chamakh 2009 (Morocco), Gervinho 2010 & 2011 (Ivory Coast), Younès Belhanda 2012 (Morocco) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon) in 2013.
The award is voted on by 60 journalists from all branches of media and is co-sponsored by Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24 TV news channel.
Enyeama's Tit Bits:
Born: August 29th , 1982 (Age 31). Kaduna, Nigeria
Height: 6'2'' (1.89m)
Weight: 174 Ibs (79 kg)
Salary: 1.02 million Euros (2012)
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