by Oma Akatugba

When you take a critical look at the year 2014 in sports in Nigeria. It leaves mixed feelings in your mind. There were negatives as well as positives. Football being the major sport in Nigeria, the failure of the defending champions of African football, The Super Eagles, to qualify for the African Nations Cup would go down as the biggest disappointment of the year 2014.

I must say we had more positives individually than collective in the year 2014. The only major collective success recorded in sports in the year 2014 is the impressive Falconets who finished as runners up at the U-20 Female World Cup, loosing to almighty Germany in the final. This tournament saw the emergence of Nigeria’s golden girl of the moment, Asisat Oshoala on the world scene, the triumph of the Super Falcons at the AWC and subsequent qualification for the Women World Cup as expected,

Now looking at the few individuals who gave Nigerians something to cheer in 2014, a couple of names will come to mind – Blessing Okagbare, Assisat Oshoala and Vincent Enyeama. I can’t write about the success of Enyeama without mentioning the giant strides made by the ladies this year.

Blessing Okagbare: She has been flying the country’s flag high in recent years on the world scene, this year saw her improve on her pace as well as been consistent. She was able to get the better of double Olympic champion, Shelly Anne Fraser Pryce on two occasions during the Diamond League meetings. She was consistent all year in the 100m, 200m and the Long Jump events, although some of her rivals were injured for the better part of the season, such as Allyson Felix, Shelly Anne Fraser Pryce while Veronica Campbell was banned for a banned substance. With a successful 2014, one hopes she keeps it up for the World Championship next year.

Assisat Oshoala: Unarguably, Nigeria’s best female footballer of the year – Her deft touches, excellent footwork, pace and clinical finishes in front of goal won her the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot at the U-20 Women World Cup. She continued this impressive form at the AWC where she helped the Super Falcons to victory. She was voted the best player of the tournament and was the second highest goalscorer in the competition. She also helped her club Rivers Angels win the 2014 Federations Cup, she scored a goal in the final. At just twenty years of age, she’s surely on a good stride to hit the world class standard.

And to the man who in my reckoning stands head and shoulders above everybody not only in Nigeria but Africa at large. Without an iota of doubt, Vincent Enyeama is Nigeria’s best male footballer of the year. The shot stopper was consistent, got his footing right most times, intercepted an opponent out of his goal when necessary and went on an amazing 1,062 minutes without conceding a goal in the Ligue 1. He was so close to breaking the all time record of 1,176 held by Hourd for Bordeaux in 1992-1993 season. His performances were not limited to the Ligue 1 alone, he transferred it to the UEFA Champions League and World Cup where he made several top notch saves. His impact is quite immense and his performances are consistent. Unfortunately, he couldn’t save the Super Eagles from failing to qualify for the ANC but that’s not his fault.

Having viewed critically, these three athletes, you would agree with me that Vincent Enyeama is Nigeria’s Sportsman of the year 2014. While Assisat Oshoala and Blessing Okagbare did so well, it was over a short period of time. Assisat’s exploit was over 3 competitions- U-20 Women World Cup, AWC and Federations Cup. The women league in Nigeria consists of just 12 teams and its usually brief. Blessing Okagbare was impressive during the season but not all through and it was for a shorter span while Vincent Enyeama over the course of 38 league games, the UEFA Champions League and World Cup matches was impressive all through.It’s very difficult for an African goalkeeper to hold a regular spot in a top team in Europe but Vincent Enyeama has been the number Goalkeeper for Lille Metropole in the top flight of French football over the years and was ranked amongst the to 10 Goal Keepers at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil .He was nominated for the BBC African footballer of the year award and lost to Ali Brahimi of Algeria. It must also be recalled that he is in the running for the biggest individual honour in African Football, the African Footballer of the Year Award.

His personal life tells the story of a true role model as you will never hear of scandals around his name as well as being a good Christian and a happily Married man with 3 kids.You seldom find footballers who went through the university but Vincent Enyeama. Did which perhaps suggests why he has been of excellent conduct right from the year 2001 when he broke in the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

He has won a couple of local football awards in the year 2014 which confirms the unanimous agreement that he has been the best Sports man in Nigeria in 2014.