News: Ngr v Ken: Enyeama glad Oliech didn’t play

Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama admits he was excited by the absence of Kenya captain Dennis Oliech in Wednesday’s 2014 World Cup qualifier which Nigeria won 1-0 in Nairobi. Enyeama kept a clean sheet in the match but was embarrassed by a goal from the Kenyans when they visited Nigeria for the first leg in March. Nigeria battled hard to gain an added time goal to tie the match at 1-1 in Calabar.
But after the Wednesday game, the Maccabi Tel Aviv goalkeeper said he was more relaxed than the first leg in Nigeria and many other matches he had played with the Eagles as the pressure fell short of expectations.



 He said, “All goalkeepers go into the match expecting superb displays while pulling match-winning saves. It was not the case for me as I was not troubled and that is a plus for me. Oliech is a fast striker and hustles for the ball way too much. “I am not saying I was happy he was suspended but I am just happy he was absent and it made my work easier.” Enyeama who made his debut for Nigeria in 2002 at the Korea/Japan World Cup expressed delight that the win has separated the Eagles from the other teams in the group and has ultimately reduced pressure on the team.  “The results (including Malawi versus Namibia which ended goalless) are very much acceptable not just to the team but the whole of Nigeria now that we top the group. On Wednesday, we stepped out very optimistic and kept that spirit going through the game.” Oliech, who watched the game from the sideline, believed that Kenya lost to Nigeria, because the Eagles were more experienced and exposed than the Harambee Stars. Oliech, who missed the game due to suspension, said his team played good football and deserved a pat on the back. “These are African champions; they are better experienced and they know what to do under pressure. We cannot blame our boys for everything but look at the game positively. They played well against Nigeria and held them till the last minutes when they lost a bit of concentration,” Oliech told Michezoafrika.com. The captain suggested that Kenya FA should be consistent by retaining the squad, noting that there were a lot of talents in the group. “These boys can perform if only given time to blend. This is the future of Kenyan football and we should hold them together.”