VINCENT ENYEAMA, Nigeria’s expert shot-stopper has been adjudged the best keeper in the ongoing world cup after the conclusion of group stages. This is according to Castrol, Official Sponsor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.
Castrol, who are experts in using pioneering technology and data analysis to understand the performance of their oils and have used similar expertise to create the Castrol Index, the definitive system for rating player performance, according to reports published in the FIFA website.
Nigeria’s Vincent Enyeama has been selected as the Goal keeper which includes the following top players in the world.
Defence: DAVID LUIZ – Brazil, Daniel VAN BUYTEN – Belgium, Thiago SILVA – Brazil, Mamadou SAKHO – France
Midfield: James RODRIGUEZ – Columbia, Ivan PERISIC – Croatia, Xherdan SHAQIRI – Swizerland, Philipp LAHM – Germany
Forward: Karim BENZEMA – France, Arjen ROBBEN – Netherlands.
Previously used at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and 2013 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Castrol Index uses the latest FIFA tracking technology to capture data on each player, which will then be analysed by a team of Castrol Performance Analysts. Every pass, tackle and move on the field is measured and assessed to see if it has a positive or negative impact on a team’s ability to score or concede a goal. The team of Castrol Performance Analysts crunch all the data to award each player a Castrol Index score out of 10 – the stronger the player’s performance, the higher their score.
In a side prone to risk-taking down both flanks, veteran goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has proven himself adept at rescuing Nigeria’s defenders when the occasion calls.
An expert shot-stopper with great acrobatic ability, Enyeama has occasionally been hurt by lapses in concentration, but is capable of pulling off spectacular saves, as he proved at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, when he won two Man of the Match awards in Nigeria’s three matches. Indeed, his performances in defeats against Argentina and Greece in South Africa were arguably among the best in the recent history of the World Cup.
A popular figure in the country and the team, ‘The Cat’ has been the consistent first choice for over a decade, playing in 28 out of 30 World Cup qualifiers that the Super Eagles have contested since 2006. Enyeama’s record in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations is equally impressive, having helped the Super Eagles to third-place finishes in the 2004, 2006 and 2010 tournaments and to their third continental trophy in 2013.
In the AFCON in South Africa last year, he served as captain in the absence of Joseph Yobo, and was named goalkeeper of the tournament. He has a reputation for being particularly strong against penalties, and has even been known to convert a few himself.
Enyeama has earned a good amount of high-level club experience as well. He won the CAF Champions League twice with Nigerian club Enyimba before moving to Israel in 2005, where he played in the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League. Having attracted attention from a number of clubs, Enyeama signed for French champions Lille in 2011 but went back to Israel on loan. Since returning to France at the start of the 2013/4 season, he has impressed as Lille’s first choice keeper in a successful season that saw the club qualify for European football.
