The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akpeyi

  • Experience wins Akpeyi Eagles No.1 shirt

    Experience wins Akpeyi Eagles No.1 shirt

    The experience of South Africa-based goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi has won him a starting place in today’s World Cup qualifier against Algeria, but youngster Dele Alampasu pushed him all the way.

    “Akpeyi will be in goal against Algeria. His experience won him his place,” a team official disclosed.

    “Otherwise, Alampasu has really impressed in training, but the coaches do not want to take a gamble on an uncapped player in such an important game like the match against Algeria .

    “The choice of the goalkeeper to start was not easy as various scenarios were looked at before it was finally decided to go with Akpeyi.”

    With first-choice Carl Ikeme ruled out of the match due to injury, speculations have raged on over the goalkeeper to be between the sticks against the Desert Foxes.

    Portugal-based Alampasu has shone in training, but he will not be considered for the No.1 spot because he has yet to make his full international debut after appearances for the country’s U-17 and U-20s.

    FC IfeanyiUbah star Ikechukwu Ezenwa lost out because the Nigeria league has been on break for the past six weeks, officials informed.

  • AFCON: Siasia replaces Iheanacho with Aminu

    AFCON: Siasia replaces Iheanacho with Aminu

    The acting Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Samson Siasia has made three changes to the Nigerian team that played 1-1 with Egypt at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna last Friday.

     

    On the new lists, West Ham United’s Victor Moses replaces Simon Moses as Daniel Akpeyi fills injured Carl Ikeme’s place while Aminu stands in for Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho.

     

    Similarly, Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, who is returning from a three match ban for a red card he got in the first game against Chad will start the game from the bench.

     

    Nigeria’s first eleven against Egypt include Akpeyi, Shehu, Amuzie, Ambrose, Oboabona, Mikel, Etebo, Aminu, Musa, Victor Moses, Ighalo.

     

    The on the bench are Echiejile, Iheanacho, Azubuike, Simon, Ezenwa, Onazi and Iwobi.

  • Iwobi, Onazi, Akpeyi join Eagles

    Iwobi, Onazi, Akpeyi join Eagles

    Former Super eagles coach Sunday Oliseh is expected to give his own version to why he suddenly quit his post with just a month to the crucial AFCON qualifiers against Egypt.

    “Sports Minister Solomon Dalung has insisted he be part of the committee’s hearing and so he will be in attendance on Thursday,” a sports ministry official informed.

    The sports minister ordered Oliseh not to be sacked when Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick presented a recommendation of the technical committee that the coach be fired.

    The NFF have maintained this briefing is a major distraction as the Super Eagles are preparing for must-win AFCON qualifiers against Egypt.

  • Premier League title: Akpeyi hails Enyimba

    Premier League title: Akpeyi hails Enyimba

    Nigeria international, Daniel Akpeyi who left Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, Warri Wolves for South African club, Chippa United has congratulated NPFL 2014/2015 champions, Enyimba Int’l.

    The ex-Heartland goalkeeper went ahead to charge the People’s Elephant  to take their blistering domestic form to the continent in the CAF Champions League next season.

    “First, I hope they will take the same fight to lift the NPFL trophy to the continental tournament when it kicks off because that’s when the effort they put in the league will  make some real sense,”Akpeyi told SupportTheNPFL.com.

    The Chippa United goalkeeper, Akpeyi, who started his football career in 2004 at Gabros Int’l now known as FC Ifeanyi Ubah felt his former club, Warri Wolves gave a good fight and also gave the league organisers, League Management Company (LMC) thumbs up for improving the quality of the NPFL.

    “Well, not to take it away from them, both team (Enyimba and Warri Wolves) deserve to lift the trophy because they gave a good account of themselves from the beginning to the end but unfortunately a team has to be crowned and Enyimba Int’l showed they wanted it more. Congrats to them,”Akpeyi said.

    “Secondly, I think the LMC did so well by making the league 2014/2015 as transparent as possible. This season is better than the previous one,  the referees have stepped up and that has shown the number of away wins. Though I’m far away from home but I still follow the league very well,” Akpeyi concluded.

  • Akpeyi: Why I left Glo League

    Akpeyi: Why I left Glo League

    Former Warri Wolves goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has revealed to Sportinglife that an urge to play in a more organised league forced him to move to South Africa.

    The former Junior international who had his debut with Chappa United in the South African League last weekend, said  it was his desire to move ahead after putting in almost a decade in the Nigeria League was  the major reason he moved .

    “I wanted a new challenge, having been in the Nigeria League for almost 10 years, and I don’t think I have anything to prove again in the League, and moreover, to have a taste of a more organised league system, that was the major reason why I moved over to South Africa”.

    He further confirmed that the two year contract with Chappa United is juicy enough, and promised to bounce back to the national team.

    Daniel Akpeyi, who was born in Nnewi in 1986, began his career with Gabros International of Nnewi and was promoted to  the first-team in 2005, but moved to Nasarawa United in January 2007. He was an undisputed starter for both clubs.

    Akpeyi joined Heartland of Owerri for their 2010 CAF Champions League campaign, and was again first-choice. In February 2014, it was announced that he had left Heartland to join league rivals Warri Wolves but a few days later, Heartland denied the move by an official statement, stating that they had no intention to sell their first choice goalkeeper.

    In the following month, however, the deal was confirmed again and Akpeyi joined Warri Wolves.

    Akpeyi was a member of the Nigeria U-20 team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Holland and was in the 22-man squad before the Beijing 2008 Olympics, but did not see action in either tournament. He was also called up to the 23-man squad for the CHAN in South Africa as a backup to Chigozie Agbim.

    On May 6, 2014 Akpeyi was named in the 30-man provisional squad ahead of FIFA World Cup.

    He made his first full cap in 2015, called in for the friendly vs. South Africa as a replacement for an injured Vincent Enyeama. He saved a penalty and was praised for his strong keeping in his Man of the Match performance.

  • Akpeyi arrives SA to begin Chippa United contract

    Akpeyi arrives SA to begin Chippa United contract

    Warri Wolves Daniel Akpeyi has arrived in South Africa to begin his sojourn with South African Premier Soccer League side Chippa United.

    The former Heartland goalkeeper arrived Tuesday morning and will resume training with his team immediately.

    His representative Mohammed Lawal told AfricanFootball.com the goalkeeper is full of hope.

    “Daniel Akpeyi is here. He arrived this morning (Tuesday). He will resume training with Chippa. He is happy to be here and ready to start playing,” Lawal told AfricanFootball.com.

    The Super Eagles goalkeeper secured his work permit last week.

  • Akpeyi still part of Eagles, says Agu

    Nigeria goalkeeping coach Alloy Agu has stated that new Chippa United custodian Daniel Akpeyi still remains in the plans of the Super Eagles despite a change of guard.

    Agu said Akpeyi is one of the goalkeepers  selected for the Nigerian men’s national team but was left out of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match with Tanzania to allow him settle down at his new club in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL).

    “Akpeyi is one of the goalkeepers I have monitored in the league while he was with Warri Wolves, and even his performances in the friendly match (against South Africa) recently showed that he is one of our best and I believe that is why the club in South Africa signed him up.

    “Like most of the players who were not invited for this game, Akpeyi is very much in our plans as we believe he can also provide competition in the goalkeeping department of the team. For now, we thought it best for him to settle down at his new team and then we can monitor his progress as well,” Agu told supersport.com.

    He explained that Ikeme has been putting out impressive displays with Wolves in the English Championship, where he has made two appearances in their five league matches.

    “Carl is a decent goalkeeper. He is among the most respected goalkeepers in England and he will certainly be a good addition to the team. As for Ikechukwu, he has spent a week with us and I can say he is one of the best in the league right now and certainly his future remains bright provided he keeps working hard to stay in good shape,” said Agu.

  • Akpeyi: Work permit out soon to star for Chippa

    Akpeyi: Work permit out soon to star for Chippa

    Former Warri Wolves and Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has told AfricanFootball.com his work permit will be out this week so he could feature for new South African club Chippa United.

    Akpeyi, who has signed for the South African PSL side, will now team up with fellow Nigerian James Okuosah.

    Akpeyi told AfricanFootball.com: “I am just awaiting the release of my work permit which would be out in two days all things being equal. I have done every other thing that is needed, it’s just for me to start playing that is left.

    “I am very excited to have completed my move to Chippa. I am eager to get to action for them and do what I love doing.

    “And I am looking forward to bettering and improving myself as the South African league is very competitive.”

  • Akpeyi passes Chippa medical

    Akpeyi passes Chippa medical

    Nigeria goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has passed a routine medical at South African Premier League side Chippa United, AfricanFootball.com can report.

    His representative, Mohammed Lawal, told AfricanFootball.com the deal is almost sealed with only for both teams to agree on the payment of his transfer fee.

    “Daniel (Akpeyi) is here in South Africa, he arrived last week and passed the medical on Monday. Both clubs are taking about the payment, that’s the only thing that remains to conclude the move,” Mohammed reported.

    Akpeyi has represented Nigeria at U-20 and full international levels. He has played for Gabros, Heartland and Nasarawa United.

  • Akpeyi lands in South Africa for medical, personal terms

    Akpeyi lands in South Africa for medical, personal terms

    Warri Wolves have permitted their goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi to speak with Chippa United towards sealing a move to the South African Premier League(SPL) and the goaltender has travelled to the Southern African region for his medical and to discuss his personal terms.

    Chippa United recently expressed their resolve to sign the Super Eagles’ back-up goalkeeper but after initial denial from Warri Wolves, the Media Manager of the club, Moses Etu told SportingLife that they have allowed Akpeyi to travel to South Africa.

    Etu said that the club would not stand in the way of any of their players that seeks greener pasture but that both clubs would still have to agree on his transfer fees before a deal can be sanctioned.

    The soft-spoken goalkeeper is in his second season with Warri Wolves having left Heartland at the beginning of last season and he has carved a niche for himself among the quality goaltenders in the league and has also been capped by the senior national team.

    “Akpeyi has left for South Africa. We have allowed him to travel and he has gone there for medical and to also agree personal terms.

    “We are not known for standing in the way of any of our players and Akpeyi won’t be disallowed from getting his wishes if Chippa United agree on our valuation of the goalkeeper,” Etu told SportingLife.

    Meanwhile, a South Africa based Nigerian football agent, Mohammed Lawal who is at the heart of discussion between both Chippa United and Warri Wolves has authoritatively told SportingLife yesterday that Akpeyi would become a Chippa United player in the coming days.

    He said both clubs have started negotiations and that Chippa United are willing to tie up Akpeyi to a very long contract after he impressed in the few training sessions he has had.