Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, says Godswill Akpabio, immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom, prevented him from retiring from the team after it failed to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Enyeama told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that his wife and pastor also prevailed on him to drop the plan.

His words: “I actually wanted to stop, it wasn’t a rumour. Nigeria is blessed with great goalkeepers, just that we need to give them confidence.

“Nobody gave me a chance when I started, I was a rookie also; I belt it up, I worked hard for it and became the big person that nobody wants to lose.

“What changed my mind was the passion of Nigerians; I had a lot of calls, my governor, Akpabio.

“A lot of people talked with me. These things, you don’t just ignore and my wife also talked with me.

“My wife didn’t want me to leave yet. I talked with my pastor and he said if everybody said stay, why not; so I decided to continue, but then, there is going to be a time to call it quit.”

Enyeama, who is also the Super Eagles captain, said that the reason why he wanted to retire from the national team was to give other goalkeepers the chance to develop themselves.

He said that he had been in the scene since 2002, adding that there was every reason for him to give way for others to take over.

The Eagles goalkeeper, however, said that 2017 AFCON finals would be his last outing for Nigeria, saying that everybody around him were now in support of his 2017 plan.

“I can’t keep doing the same thing forever; there is going to be a time I have to stop and give it up to some other person,” he said. “I am the only face here since 2002, but 2017 Nations Cup finals will be my last game; I just said my target, anything can happen after.’’

According to him, the likes of Daniel Akpeyi are capable of taking over the responsibility. (NAN)

•Photo shows Enyeama.

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