The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Hope Akpan

  • Coyle backs Hope Akpan against extended ban

    Blackburn manager  Owen Coyle said a three-game ban handed Hope Akpan should be enough punishment for him as the Nigeria midfielder faces an extended suspension following his red card at Sheffield Wednesday.

    The coach said Akpan did not push the referee as it was said.

    Akpan was sent off for raising his hands towards referee Scott Duncan as he protested against his late equaliser at Hillsborough being ruled out for handball.

    He has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association (FA) and began a three-match man when Manchester United visited Ewood Park in the FA Cup yesterday, but that could be extended.

    Coyle, who stressed that no-one at the club condones laying hands on an official.

    “I thought a three game ban was sufficient,” he said.

    “Nobody can ever condone touching a referee but never at any time did Hope Akpan push, or shove, as people have intimated, the referee.

    “Hope placed his arms on the referee, which he shouldn’t have done, but he never pushed him.

    “It’s hard to take given the events of the other night, but the situation has arisen after a decision which was given against us after scoring a perfectly good goal.

    “It does rub salt in to the wounds, but I must stress, no-one is condoning touching a referee.”

  • Akpan welcomes international break

    Akpan welcomes international break

    Blackburn Rovers midfielder, Hope Akpan, has declared that the team will use the international break to fine-tune strategies ahead of the Championship tie against MK Dons on October 17.

    Last weekend, the Super Eagles midfielder had one of his best performances since joining Blackburn Rovers, winning a penalty which was converted by Rhodes in the 12th minute against Ipswich Town, and was brilliant in midfield, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

    “Some people have said that the break has come at the wrong time but I don’t think that’s the case,” allnigeriasoccer.com quoted Akpan as saying to Radio Rovers.

    “We can reflect on the things that we’ve done well, and work on the areas that need work in the international break so we can be ready and more prepared for the MK Dons game which will be fast upon us.”

     

  • Hope Akpan relishing Wembley opportunity

    Hope Akpan relishing Wembley opportunity

    Super Eagles midfielder, Hope Akpan is relishing the opportunity of playing against Arsenal in the semi-final of the FA Cup at the prestigious Wembley Stadium.

    The Royals secured their first FA Cup semi final since 1927 after defeating Bradford City 3-0 in the FA Cup quarter final replay match at the Madejski Stadium on Monday.

    Akpan, who has been called-up by Nigeria for the double-header international friendly matches against Bolivia and South Africa on March 26 and 29, congratulated his team mates for their performance against Bradford.

    “Well done to the lads, tonight’s performance warranted a semi final appearance. We are going to Wembley! @ReadingFC”, he posted on his Twitter page immediately after the game.

  • Akpan returns to training

    Akpan returns to training

    Reading midfielder Hope Akpan is expected to return to action by month’s end after he started training with his English club following a shoulder injury he suffered playing for Nigeria.

    Nigeria team doctor, Ibrahim Gyaran, said he has kept tabs with Akpan and his progress to full recovery.

    Akpan suffered the injury which needed surgery in the Super Eagles 2-0 win over Congo Brazzaville in a 2015 African Nations Cup qualifier played in Pointe Noire in November, africanFootball.com reports.

    “I want to re-emphasise that Hope Akpan has started active training with the first team of Reading and only awaits final clearance from the doctors who operated on his shoulder. He is expected to return to full action with his club by the end of this month,” Gyaran told africanFootball.com.

  • Akpan out of South Africa clash

    Akpan out of South Africa clash

    Reading midfielder Hope Akpan has ruled himself out of Wednesday’s decisive 2015 African Nations Cup qualifier against South Africa after he suffered an injury to his left arm in Congo.

    The African champions must win on Wednesday to qualify automatically for next year’s tournament in Equatorial Guinea.

    “I’m feeling a lot better now, but I won’t be able to play on Wednesday,” the defensive midfielder told africanFootball.com on Monday.

    “I hope to be back in action in a few weeks.”

    Akpan made his Eagles debut against Sudan in Abuja last month and the match in Congo was only his second cap.

    Meanwhile, the Super Eagles had been boosted by the return to training of injured defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Azubuike Egwuekwe.

    Team spokesman Ben Alaiya said, “Both Omeruo and Egwuekwe resumed training with the rest of the squad in Uyo.”

    Omeruo is nursing groin and knee complaints and as was ruled out of Saturday’s clash against Congo in Pointe-Noire.

    Egwuekwe, who stood in for the injured Omeruo, suffered a head gash after going up for an aerial ball during the match against the Congolese.

    The Eagles resumed training in Uyo on Sunday.

     

  • AFCON qualifier: Akpan, Samuel in Eagles’ starting XI

    AFCON qualifier: Akpan, Samuel in Eagles’ starting XI

    Reading midfielder Hope Akpan and China-based striker Aaron Samuel will start for Nigeria against Sudan in Wednesday’s African Nations Cup qualifier in Abuja, africanFootball.com reports.

    It will be their full international debuts for Nigeria.

    The first choice fullbacks Efe Ambrose and Elderson Echiejile, have been dropped with Ogenyi Onazi now to start at right back for the first time since AFCON 2013.

    Coach Stephen Keshi has also picked Turkey-based midfielder Raheem Lawal ahead of Nosa Igiebor, who started the reverse fixture in Khartoum at the weekend.

    CSKA Moscow winger Ahmed Musa, who was a major injury doubt for this make-or-mar match, has recovered from a knock he picked up in Sudan and will start again for the African champions.

    Starting XI

     

    Vincent Enyeama – Ogenyi Onazi, Juwon Oshaniwa, Kenneth Omeruo, Godfrey Oboabona – Mikel Obi, Raheem Lawal, Hope Akpan, Ahmed Musa – Aaron Samuel, Emmanuel Emenike

  • Hope Akpan dreams big in Eagles

    Hope Akpan dreams big in Eagles

    • Vows to wreck Sudan tomorrow

    Reading Football Club of England midfielder Hope Akpan has vowed to play a key role  for the Super Eagles and hopes to show this traits by having a good match against Sudan tomorrow.

    The midfielder who was excited about his call up to the Super Eagles told SportingLife he would definitely make the best use of this opportunity to become a household name in the Nigerian senior national team.

    “I feel very great playing for the Super Eagles of Nigeria. My parents hail from Nigeria and my father is from Ibibio, Akwa Ibom. Although I was born in Liverpool in the United Kingdom but Nigeria blood runs in me  and I am very excited and committed to helping this great team qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Akpan also showered encomiums on the quality of players he met in the Eagles and said that the team is capable of beating any team on a good day with hard work. “I have come to appreciate the fact there are many good players in this team both in defense where we have Keneth Omeruo and the rest and in the midfield and attack too.

    “We are strong and we are comfortable that we can win the two matches against Sudan. I can honestly assure football loving Nigerians that we are not going to Sudan for jamboree. We are going there to play good football and as well beat Sudan on their home ground and come back with the three points that we so desire.

    ‘’He also told SportingLife that in the next three years he would have achieved his ambition of becoming an important player for Nigeria. “In the next three years I hope to be a permanent feature in the team where I hope to command a first team shirt and also be a very important player for the Nigerian senior national team.’’

  • AFCON: Akpan nursing ‘small injury’

    AFCON: Akpan nursing ‘small injury’

    New Super Eagles call-up, Hope Akpan, is nursing “a small injury” but he hopes to be fit for Saturday’s African Nations Cup qualifier against Sudan.

    “I am nursing a small injury but I hope to be fit for Saturday, “the Reading of England midfielder told africanFootball.com.

    However, the injury has not stopped Akpan from being part of the Eagles training in Abuja.

    Akpan, who is one four fresh call-ups for the matches against Sudan, said he has been most impressed with the spirit in the squad.

    Nigeria has already lost Stoke City winger Victor Moses and Ukraine-based Babatunde Michael to injuries.

    But coach Stephen Keshi has insisted the team will cope with these late withdrawals.

    “We pray that everybody would be in good health because that is very important. We have already lost two players now, I hope that would be the last,” he said.

  • Eagles’ invitation excites Akpan

    Eagles’ invitation excites Akpan

    Reading FC midfielder, Hope Akpan, has expressed joy at being called up by Nigeria for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations two-legged game against Sudan in October, supersport.com reports.

    Akpan, 23, is one of four new players handed invitations by the Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi.

    The others are Raheem Lawal, Aaron Samuel and Ugonna Anyora.

    The former Everton man could not contain his excitement, adding that he remains grateful for the chance to represent Nigeria at international level.

    “(I am) Delighted to say the least with the Super Eagles call up! (I) Appreciate all the well wishes and messages! #blessed,” supersport.com quoted Akpan as saying on his Twitter account.

    Born in Liverpool, England, Akpan, last year declared his interest in representing Nigeria, the country of his parents, despite being eligible to play for England.

    He also said Victor Moses’ choice to play for Nigeria has inspired his decision.

    He said: “To play for England would also be an honour but for me, Nigeria is where my heart lies. To see a player like Victor Moses who was brought up in the United Kingdom play for Nigeria and do well, becoming one of the outstanding players of the tournament, was an inspiration for me.”

     

  • Akpan scores in Reading’s goal feast

    Akpan scores in Reading’s goal feast

    Hope Akpan scored for Reading FC in their 7-1 mauling of Bolton Wanderers in an English Championship game played at the Madjeski Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

    Akpan blasted in a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the top right corner to give the hosts a hefty six-goal advantage, after a hat-trick from Adam Le Fondre and further goals from Karspas Gorkss and Pavel Pogrebnyak had given the Royals an unassailable lead.

    A further goal from Nick Blackman in the 78th minute, following a fast break sealed the win for the hosts, although David N’gog managed to pull one back for the visitors in the 88th minute.