Oil exploration, Agriculture, Industrialization and one-third of Nigeria’s oil wealth are some of the accolades the ancient city of Yenegoa takes pride in. Located in the heart of Nigeria’s Niger-delta, Yenagoa, the capital city of Bayelsa is home to one of Nigeria’s top goalkeeping talents in recent years.
On 16th 1988, Ikechukwu Vincent Ezenwa was born in the city of Yenagoa where he lived and grew up with his parents and served as an altar boy in his Roman Catholic Church. Brewed in the Roman Catholic doctrine as a young boy, his father, who was formerly a footballer never wanted his son to play football. However, tables turned. Ezenwa, who stands at 1.85m tall, started his club career with Ocean Boys in 2006 making a total of 56 appearances and winning the FA Cup and Super cup before joining Heartland of Owerri in 2008 where he made a total of 61 appearances. He is one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the Nigerian league having played for seven Nigeria Professional Football League clubs including Sunshine Stars of Akure and Enyimba of Aba, from 2006 till date with 200 appearances across board.
Ezenwa was a member of the Flying Eagles and Olympic team between 2007 and 2008. He made his debut for the national team in 2015 under Sunday Oliseh. In 2017, he seized the opportunity of writing his name in gold when he came in for the sick Carl Ikeme in a World Cup qualifier against Cameroun in Uyo. Not only did he record a clean sheet, he also performed excellently in the 4-0 annihilation of Cameroun. He has been a part of the National team set up since then under Gernot Rohr. The choice of Super Eagles’ number one goalkeeper is more often than not debated amongst Nigerian football fans. Perhaps, he is preferred among fans over his counterparts because of his sharp reflexes, good defensive organization and composure.
Ikechukwu Ezenwa currently plays for Kastina United in the NPFL and will be hoping to have a good tournament in Egypt.
National Team Profile
- Appearances = 7
- Goals conceded = 2
- Clean Sheets = 5
- Total Number of minutes = 565
- Trophies Won = None
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