Warri Wolves goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has downplayed his recent achievements in goal for Nigeria by insisting that his recent form in the Nigeria Premier League has been somewhat overstated.
The Warri Wolves goalkeeper is seen as next in the line for the Super Eagles goalkeeping job whenever Vincent Enyeama decides to retire from the national team. Enyeama, who got his first cap at the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, reached his 100th cap with the international friendly against Uganda last month in Uyo. Nigeria lost the game 1-0.
Akpeyi, who bared his mind in an interview with the official website of the Nigeria Football Federation, thenff.com, said the competition was too strong for him to see himself as the number one or the top contender for the Eagles position.
He said, “There is big competition. I can’t say I am number now. Vincent remains the undisputed number one of the team and we his understudies are still looking up to him. Until it is time for a match and the coach tells me I am starting, then [I’ll say] I am number one, but for now I am not number one.”
Enyeama has said in recent interviews that he doesn’t see himself staying much longer in his position with the Eagles. The Lille of France keeper missed the Nigeria game against South Africa four days after the match in Uyo due to back pain. Akpeyi was in goal for the Eagles and the game ended 1-1 following a Bafana Bafana fight back in the added time of the game.
By the close of the last weekend, Warri Wolves emerged as the last Glo Premier League club standing in CAF inter-club competitions after Kano Pillars and Enyimba crashed out on Saturday and Sunday respectively. The fourth Nigerian club, Dolphins, had earlier been disqualified from the CAF Confederation Cup following their failure to keep to time for their match at Club Africain in Tunisia.
Wolves gave Nigeria something to cheer as they held on to their two-goal lead from the first leg to edge out Dedebit FC of Ethiopia. The success of Wolves in Ethiopia has largely been traced to Akpeyi, going by his performance for Wolves in Addis Ababa. Akpeyi saved a point blank effort in the first half.
Akpeyi continued with a superb second half performance that saw him pull off saves to keep Dedebit at bay and ensure the match ended goalless.
Sources: #punchng
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