Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has blamed the ‘horrible’ pitch in Sierra Leone for the team’s disjointed performance in a last gasp 1-0 win over the Leone Stars on Saturday in Freetown.
“That pitch was horrible,” the former Enyimba goalkeeper told KickOffNigeria.com on Sunday morning. “It looked good from outside but it was more like elephant grass to play on.
“We couldn’t play our game because the ball was bouncing all over and it was difficult to control the ball or move around very well.”
However, the three points secured in the closing minutes of the game meant that the goalkeeper could afford to joke about the pitch, with a dig at his roommate. “If Chidi (Odiah) had played, his leg-overs would have failed him because of that grass,” Enyeama cracked.
The hosts dominated the opening period and could have gone ahead early, with Enyeama forced to make two great saves in the first half, including getting a fingertip to a vicious drive that proved just enough to get the goal-bound ball on to the cross bar.
He was also called upon to do his favourite job, stare an attacker into submission in two one-on-ones during the game, and on both occasions, he won the battle against the Sierra Leonean attackers. The goalie however, declined any credit. “We just thank God for everything.
All I usually do is to stand my ground when an attacker is in front of me. They are the ones under pressure to score, so I make sure I make it as hard as possible for them.
“But we thank God for the three points. It was not an easy game, but we have the points and we can look forward to the next game.” Nigeria play Equatorial Guinea next weekend in Malabo.
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