The late Agbonavbare is considered a club legend at Spanish side Rayo Vallecano, where he spent six years.
He was in goal as Nigeria secured a place for the first time ever at the world’s greatest sporting event with a vital draw in Algeria.
Alloy Agu;
Agu served with distinction as first choice between the sticks at two African championships, winning silver and bronze medals.
He led a pair of excellent back-ups to Rufai in 1994, and subsequently served Nigeria as goalkeeper coach.
Inua Rigogo;
One of the most naturally talented keepers Nigeria has ever produced, Rigogo’s athleticism and acrobatics ensured he held down the Eagles’ No. 1 shirt for the best part of a decade.
He was effective at intimidating opposition strikers, and at club level, was a hero of local football in the years immediately after Independence.
Ike Shorunmu ;
He may not be as respected as some other keepers on this list, but Shorunmu was certainly a key figure for the national side during some of their peak years.
He was first choice for Nigeria at the 2002 World Cup, and amassed 36 caps for the national side.
Peter Fregene ;
A star for Stationary Stores during the late 60s, Fregene was duly called up to the national side and spent several years as Nigeria’s No. 1.
He represented the Eagles at the 1968 Olympics, and was even recalled—briefly—for the ’82 Nations Cup campaign.
Rufai later identified Fregene as his own personal hero.
Sam Ibiam ;
An icon of the pre-Independence years, Ibiam was Nigeria’s first international keeper and honoured that maiden selection with a clean sheet in the Green Eagles’ 2-0 victory over Sierra Leone in 1949.
He spent the best part of a decade between the sticks for the national side, earning the nickname the ‘Black Magnet’.
Emmanuel Okala;
A star for Nigeria during the 1970s, notably when the Super Eagles won the All African Games gold medal in 1973, Okala enjoyed great success with Enugu Rangers.
He was influential during the club’s successive doubles in the mid-70s, and shone as Nigeria reached the final four at the Nations Cup in 1978.
Best Ogedegbe ;
Icon of Shooting Stars during the Ibadan side’s glory years during the 1970s, Ogedegbe was between the sticks during ‘Sooting’s’ league and cup successes, as well as their glorious African Cup Winners Cup campaign.
His consistency in goal and accuracy taking penalties himself made him a darling of Nigeria fans, and he conceded just once as Nigeria won her first Nations Cup in 1980.
Peter Rufai;
Arguably Nigeria’s finest goalkeeper ever, Rufai was a trailblazer.
He was one of the first Nigerian goalkeepers to play in Europe when he joined Belgian side Lokeren in 1986, and his international career spanned 15 years.
He captained Nigeria at the World Cup in 1994.
Vincent Enyeama;
The legendary Super Eagles stopper amassed 101 appearances for Nigeria between 2002 and 2015, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013.
At club level, Enyeama represented LOSC Lille with distinction.
Leave a Reply