Top 5 Nigeria goalkeepers of all-time

There have been several standout Nigeria goalkeepers at club and international level, but who ranks as the best? Ace Football takes a look.

The man between the posts is the backbone of the team. He is the very last line of defense and one player that can decide a game in an instance. Fortunately, Nigeria have had their fair share of excellent goalkeepers over the years.

But who would you rank as the best of the bunch? Ace Football has a go at answering this by listing the five best keepers from the West African nation.

5. Alloysius Agu

Starting off our list of best Nigeria goalkeepers is Alloysius Agu.

The Lagos-born star was a rare talent. He is part of an exclusive group that had a successful club and international career. Even now, aged 54, he continues to contribute to the national team as a coach for the current generation of shot-stoppers.

Agu won the first of his 25 caps for the Super Eagles in 1990 and quickly established himself as the No.1, helping the team finish second and third in the 1990 and 1992 Africa Cup of Nations respectively. He also served as a backup for Peter Rufai in the triumphant AFCON campaign in 1994.

Agu spent time in Europe in his club career as well in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Turkey. He mostly starred in Turkey, plying his trade at Kayserispor until his retirement in 1997.

4. Wilfred Agbonavbare

The late Wilfred Agbonavbare is one of the most successful Nigeria goalkeepers in Europe. After spells in his homeland, he joined Rayo Vallecano in 1990. He made 85 appearances, helping the Spanish side win promotion to LaLiga and continuing as their first-choice thereafter.

The Lagos-born star became a fan favorite in Spain and later had a brief spell at another Spanish club in Ecija Balompie for the 1996/97 season, before retiring aged 31.

Regrettably, Agbonavbare played little for the Nigerian national team. He was mostly a backup for Peter Rufai, but still claimed a winner’s medal for the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations title.

The former Rayo Vallecano keeper passed away in January 2015 due to cancer.

3. Ike Shorunmu

The now 54-year-old had quite the adventurous career before hanging up his gloves in 2006. He started out in Nigeria before playing in Switzerland and Turkey at six different clubs.

Ike Shorunmu’s most successful period was at FC Zurich between 1996 and 1999. He made 86 appearances for the Swiss side, keeping 25 clean sheets and conceding 97 goals. His performances earned him a move to Turkish giants Besiktas. He later had spells with Lucerne, Samsunspor, and Juventus Zurich.

On the international scene, Shorunmu won 36 caps. The keeper was part of the squad that lost to Cameroon in Lagos on penalties in the 2000 AFCON final and finish third in the tournament two years later. He also represented the Super Eagles at the 2002 World Cup in Japan.

2. Peter Rufai

Son of a tribal king near Idimu, Peter Rufai was always going to be one of a kind.

The goalkeeper won 65 caps for Nigeria in a 15-year spell that saw him compete in two World Cups and AFCON tournaments. He scored a penalty in a 6-0 win over Ethiopia in July 1993 and later starred in goal for the Super Eagles’ famous AFCON triumph in 1994.

Rufai ventured out to Europe in his career to play for clubs such as Portuguese side Farense and Spanish giants Deportivo La Coruña. He retired from football in 2000.

1. Vincent Enyeama

Topping our list of the very best Nigeria goalkeepers in history is Vincent Enyeama.

The Aba-born star won an incredible 101 caps for the Nigeria national team between 2002 and 2015. He helped the Super Eagles to third-place finishes in the 2004, 2006, and 2010 AFCON tournaments before winning the 2013 edition. Enyeama also competed in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, as well as the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Even the late Diego Maradona was impressed, crediting him as the reason Lionel Messi failed to score in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Nigeria in a 2010 World Cup group match.

Aside from his international career, Enyeama impressed at club level as well. The 39-year-old made 164 appearances for Lille between 2011 and 2018, experiencing the UEFA Champions League in the process.

The 2009 Israel Footballer of the Year won nine trophies across his club career. These included three consecutive Nigeria Premier League titles, back-to-back CAF Champions Leagues, and two Israeli Premier League crowns.