Clubs like Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd have a remarkable following in Nigeria, either because of their success or because one or two top Nigerian players have enjoyed an association. Wolverhampton Wanderers, affectionately known as Wolves, does not fall into these two categories, which has left their goalkeeper Carl Ikeme far from a household name to the average Nigerian fan.
All that changed after the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Tanzania and Nigeria on 5 September. Carl Ikeme is now on everyone’s lips.
Ikeme, who plies his trade in the Football League Championship – English football’s second tier – made his debut for the Super Eagles and won the hearts of millions of Nigerians. The game finished goalless and Ikeme was the difference between a point and defeat for the three-time Africa champions as Tanzania’s Taifa Stars virtually played them off the park in Dar es Salaam. At a time when a football-loving nation is desperately looking for a new football hero, Ikeme stepped in to fill the vacancy created by poor international results.
Carl can trace his roots to Onitsha, the most populous city in eastern Nigeria. Born in Sutton Coldfield, a suburb of Birmingham in the West Midlands, he cut his teeth at Wolves’ academy and progressed to the first-team squad for their 2003–04 Premier League season.
A month ago, when told of his first call-up, the 6ft 3in keeper thought it was a joke. “I thought someone was winding me up to start with,” he said. “I spoke to the coach and it started to make more sense and I realised it was none of my cousins winding me up or anything like that.”
After the game he said it was not easy to step into the shoes of Vincent Enyeama, Nigeria’s No.1 keeper for 12 years, who missed the Tanzania game after the death of his mother but may not have started anyway. “Playing in your first game for a team like Nigeria is not easy because there are many expectations that include filling the big shoes left by Vincent Enyeama, who has been amazing for us. I am glad I kept a clean sheet and wish to take time out to thank my team-mates who have been amazing and welcomed me from the moment I arrived.”
Ikeme is discovering more about his ancestry, a good feeling, he says, given the affectionate nature of his people, the taste of the food and the football tradition in Nigeria. “I have settled in well [with the Super Eagles]. My family are from Nigeria and it’s not like I dropped from the moon or something. I try a lot of Nigerian food and I feel very Nigerian.”
It is easy for him to feel this way, given the backslapping and accolades that have come his way since his debut. The former Arsenal and Nigeria forward Nwankwo Kanu was dramatic in his assessment of Ikeme after the game: “It is true that we did not win the match but we gained a son.”
Jay Jay Okocha said Nigeria’s search for a keeper to take over from Enyeama had ended. “He was wonderful,” the former Bolton player said of Ikeme. “We finally got the keeper we have been waiting for. We know Enyeama will not be around for ever, so it is good that he was discovered now. I wish him well.”
The new Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, was grateful to Ikeme for saving him from serious embarrassment. “I don’t like to single out players from the team but I have to admit that Carl Ikeme had a great game for us. He saved us from defeat.” Lille’s Enyeama similarly paid tribute. “Ikeme is a good keeper and I have to give him credit for the draw in Dar es Salaam.”
Ikeme also started Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Niger and has been named in the squad for a friendly against Benin Republic in a fortnight, in preparation for the next Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, against Egypt. He will not allow the accolades to affect him.
“I hope to continue from where I left off if given the chance,” he said. “All I can say is it was indeed a great feeling putting on that jersey for Nigeria and a dream come true for me. The team is young so we can expect better results as we go along.”
