The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Daniel Akpeyi

  • Alloy Agu Begs Nigerians to Forgive Daniel Akpeyi

    Alloy Agu Begs Nigerians to Forgive Daniel Akpeyi

    The goalkeeper trainer of the Super Eagles, Alloy Agu, has begged Nigerian football fans to forgive goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, who was widely blamed for the goals Nigeria conceded against South Africa.

    Bafana Bafana beat the Eagles 2-0 in their first 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers last Saturday.

     Agu speaking after the game, assured Nigerians that the technical crew is doing their best to beef up the team in all departments and called for calm as the team is still a work in progress.

    “We, the technical crew, are currently doing our best to make sure we put smiles in our fans’ faces. From the goal keeping department down to the midfield and attack, everything is still work in progress.

    “I am sure our fans will be waiting to see a better performance in our next game. I am using this medium to apologize for the team woes.

     “We will do all our best to make sure the goal keepers and players work hands in hand to eradicate all mistakes committed in the match with the South Africans in Uyo.
    “We know the danger in losing an opening game, especially at home and I am confident we will pull surprises,” Agu said.
  • Club chairman advises NFF, Super Eagles’ technical crew to recall Enyeama

    Club chairman advises NFF, Super Eagles’ technical crew to recall Enyeama

    Emmanuel Zira, Chairman of Adamawa United Football Club of Yola, on Monday advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Super Eagles technical crew to bring Vincent Enyeama back from retirement.

    Zira gave the advice in Abuja while reacting to the Eagles’ 0-2 loss to Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Saturday in the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

    The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the 34-year-old Enyeama is the team’s former captain and former first-choice goalkeeper, and plays for French Ligue 1 clubside Lille OSC.

    Zira said Enyeama’s experience as both a goalkeeper and team captain was most needed in the team at this point, especially ahead of playing against Cameroon in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

    “I am not saying that Daniel Akpeyi, our first-choice goalkeeper in that match, is not good. But I believe that Enyeama would not have conceded those goals he (Akpeyi) did.

    “Enyeama gives the team leadership and quality, and that is what he does in his club Lille in France, keeping clean sheets.

    “Goalkeepers are not usually restrained by age, just as in the case of Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus.

    “Akpeyi is good, but we need a mixture of experience and youthfulness. So, I wish the NFF and the technical crew can call Enyeama back,’’ he said.

  • Nigeria Drops Moses, Mikel for Nations Cup Qualifiers, Invites Youssef

    Nigeria Drops Moses, Mikel for Nations Cup Qualifiers, Invites Youssef

    Nigeria have left out Chelsea star Victor Moses from their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa next month.

    Captain John Obi Mikel is also among the high-profile names missing in the squad list released by Super Eagles Coach, Genort Rohr for the match against South Africa.

    Moses is being omitted despite having a splendid season with Chelsea while Mikel is understood to still be recuperating from an injury setback that has forced him undergo surgery,

    Also conspicuously missing from the list of 23 players are the China-based duo of Odion Ighalo and Brown Ideye.

    MFM FC strike partners, Stephen Odey and Sikiru Olatunbosun, have also been overlooked as Rohr takes a gamble with a lot of fresh inclusion in his list.

    The Super Eagles host the Bafana Bafana at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo in their first AFCON 2019 qualifying match.

    The last time both sides met was also at the same venue, in a 2015 AFCON qualifier, which ended 2-2 and subsequently knocked Nigeria out of qualifying for the 2015 AFCON just two years after winning it.

    There is also another surprise regarding the list, as little-known Maroof Youssef, who plays for Zamalek in Egypt was included.

    The full list

    Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Alampasu

    Defenders: Elderson Echiejile, Kenneth Omeruo, Tyrone Ebuehi, Chidozie Awaziem, Shehu Abdullahi, William Ekong and Maroof Youssef

    Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi, John Ogu, Oghenekaro Etebo, Alhassan Ibrahim, Mikel Agu and Wilfred Ndidi

    Attackers: Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Olanrewaju Kayode and Victor Osimhen.

  • Akpeyi replaces Ikeme in Eagles squad

    Akpeyi replaces Ikeme in Eagles squad

    Chippa United goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has been invited as replacement for injured Wolves star Carl Ikeme by Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr ahead of next week’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Algeria in Uyo.

    The 30-year-old was in the Nigeria U20 squad that finished as runners –up at the 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup in the Netherlands, and was also in the bronze –winning U23 team at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament in Brazil in August this year.

    The former junior international is a direct replacement for Super Eagles number one, Carl Ikeme, whose English club Wolverhampton Wanderers wrote to the Nigeria Football Federation that he would be unavailable as a result of injury.

    The Super Eagles take on the Fennecs of Algeria in Uyo on Saturday, 12th November, in a Match day 2 clash of the African race for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

  • Olympics: Siasia makes five changes for Colombia clash

    Olympics: Siasia makes five changes for Colombia clash

    Dream Team VI Coach, Samson Siasia, has made five changes to his starting XI for Wednesday night’s final Group B clash with Colombia.

    Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, Kingsley Madu and Umar Aminu have been listed in the starting XI by the coach, africanFootball.com reports.

    The other fresh inclusions are Sadiq Popoola and Effiong Ndifreke.

    Skipper Mikel Obi, Azubuike Okechukwu and the central defence pair of William Troost-Ekong and Sincere Seth will also feature in this encounter.

    Nigeria has already qualified for the quarter final of this year Olympic Games soccer event after collecting six points from two previous matches.

    The starting XI:

    Daniel Akpeyi – Effiong Ndifreke, Kingsley Madu, Sincere Seth, William Troost-Ekong – Azubuike Okechukwu, Sodiq Popoola, Mikel Obi – Ogehenekaro Etebo, Umar Aminu.

  • Mikel, Akpeyi join Olympic Team in U.S

    Mikel, Akpeyi join Olympic Team in U.S

    Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel and South Africa-based goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, have joined the U-23 team in United States and will have their first training session with team on Monday evening.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed that the duo are in the Olympic Team camp in Atlanta.

    CD Feirense of Portugal attacking midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo, is expected to link up with the team on Tuesday, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

    The team will play its last friendly game on Wednesday.

  • It’s a privilege to play at Olympics – Akpeyi

    It’s a privilege to play at Olympics – Akpeyi

    South Africa-based goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, has said it is a great privilege to feature at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as one of the over-aged players for Nigeria.

    Akpeyi was a late inclusion to the Dream Team VI Olympics’ provisional list and while the goalkeeper has admitted only the coach will determine who goes to the Games, he is thankful for the opportunity.

    “I must say that the main list is not out and only the coach knows that. But I am honoured to be counted among the over-aged players that the coach thinks can help the team,” he told africanFootball.com

    “It is a great privilege but it doesn’t give me the automatic shirt in the team.”

    The 29-year-old shot stopper was at the United States Embassy in Abuja on Thursday with other members of the team to apply for visas as they prepare for the training camp in the U.S ahead of the Olympic Games.

     

  • AFCON: No kid treatment for Chad – Akpeyi

    AFCON: No kid treatment for Chad – Akpeyi

    Super Eagles goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, has said the Chadian national team will not get any kid treatment from the former African champions.

    Eagles will meet against Chad in one of the 2017 African Nations Cup qualifiers at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, on Saturday.

    Akpeyi told SuperSport that the Super Eagles has trained well for the crucial encounter.

    “We are looking forward to winning the three points at stake against Chad in Kaduna on Saturday.

    “We expect a good game as every win is important in the qualification campaign.

    “Not at all, Chad will never be treated as underdogs, football has gone beyond the level you treat your opponents as pushovers,” he told SuperSport.

    “We are well prepared for the Chadians as the three points in the clash cannot be negotiated.

    “We do not have adequate information about their strengths but it’s quite possible they have full dossier and knowledge of us.

    “We learned Chad is coming with 100 per cent foreign-based players and not even one domestic player is in their midst.”

     

     

  • Eagles won’t fail AFCON test – Akpeyi

    Eagles won’t fail AFCON test – Akpeyi

    Super Eagles goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, has described as rare privilege, the invitation to play for the Super Eagles.

    The Warri Wolves shot stopper is among the 26 players from the domestic scene invited by Stephen Keshi to commence preparations for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Chadian national team on June 13.

    Akpeyi said his colleagues will work hard to justify the confidence the Super Eagles gaffer reposed in them by defeating the Chadians.

    “I always consider it a privilege to wear the green and white jerseys of the Super Eagles as well as being called to camp.

    “I’m confident we’ll have a good camp as well as quality training that will put us on good stand to confront the Chadians.

    “I’m certain we won’t let down the coach or abuse the implicit confidence he reposed in us,” the former Heartland goaltender told supersport.com.

     

  • Akpeyi to challenge Agbim for WC spot

    Akpeyi to challenge Agbim for WC spot

    Warri Wolves goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi will provide competition for Gombe United’s Chigozie Agbim when Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi names his preliminary squad for this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

    Keshi met with the NFF Technical Committee in Abuja yesterday where he presented and defended his selections.

    Four goalkeepers are expected to be named in that selection, and KickOffNigeria.com understands that Akpeyi, who is Okiemute Odah’s deputy at Wolves, will join Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Agbim.

    The 27 year-old former junior international has played two games in the 7-week old Nigeria Premier League, both times coming as a result of suspension to Odah.

    Agbim, 29, captain of the Super Eagles B side, was widely criticized for what was considered a shaky performance at the African Nations Championship in South Africa in February.

    The goalie received the backing of Keshi but will now have to fight off competition from Akpeyi to make the trip to Brazil.