Nigeria have rejected Maccabi Tel Aviv's request – Vincent Enyeama will miss the match with Kiryat Shmona
Despite the club's efforts, Nigerian footballing officials have rejected Maccabi's call to have Vincent Enyeama released from his national side's training grounds where they are preparing for the African Cup of Nations on Tuesday. As a result he will miss the club's next match with Kiryat Shmona and with Israel's transfer window only opening on the 9th of January, Maccabi's recent international signing from Swedish side Obrero, Tomer Chencinski, will not yet be available to take Enyeama's place in the squad. A goalkeeper from the youth side will be brought up to the first team for the match to ensure adequate defence.
Vincent Enyeama's first match with the Nigerians will be on the 21st of January against Burkina Fasso. Four days later they will play Zambia and on the 29th Ethiopia. If his side win the competition, Maccabi Tel Aviv's goalkeeper will return from South Africa with Nigeria's first championship in since 1994. Enyeama will be helped in this effort by fellow Nigerians in the Israel Premier League, Juwon Oshaniwa from M.S. Ashdod and the Hapoel Beer Sheva goalkeeper Augustine Ejide.
