Daniel Akpeyi

Daniel Akpeyi (born 3 August 1986) is a Nigerian professional football goalkeeper who plays for Kaizer Chiefs and the Nigeria national team.

Daniel Akpeyi
Akpeyi at the 2016 Olympics
Personal information
Date of birth (1986-08-03) 3 August 1986[1]
Place of birth Nnewi, Nigeria
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Kaizer Chiefs
Number 40
Youth career
Gabros International
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Gabros International
2007–2010 Nasarawa United
2010–2014 Heartland
2014–2015 Warri Wolves
2015–2019 Chippa United 92 (0)
2019– Kaizer Chiefs 6 (0)
National team‡
2015– Nigeria 19 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:42, 11 July 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:31, 17 November 2019 (UTC)

Personal Life & Club Career

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Daniel Akpeyi married his long time girl friend Ebert-Kalu Emmanuella in December 2016. In July 2018 they welcomed their first child Prince Jason Akpeyi, was born in Port Elizabeth. He is credited for finding the Daniel Akpeyi Children Empowerment Foundation (Dacef) the non profitable organization was founder in 2020. The foundation aim is to help develop Africa by helping the less privileged children get quality Education. Just like Drogba, Kanu Nwankwo and many Football stars has been a blessing to the continent over the years .

Recently the Dacef reached out to people in the locations of Gauteng, Johannesburg during the Covid19 worldwide lockdown. The Daniel Akpeyi Children Empowerment Foundation looks to be a huge blessing to Africa children.

Akpeyi began his career with Gabros International F.C. and was promoted to the first team in 2005, but moved to Nasarawa United F.C. in January 2007. He was an undisputed starter for both clubs.

Akpeyi joined Heartland F.C. 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,[2] 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.[3]

In the following month, however, the deal was confirmed again and Akpeyi joined Warri Wolves.[4][5]

In 2015, he signed a two-year deal with Chippa.[6]

In 2019, he signed with Kaizer Chiefs.


International career
Akpeyi with Nigeria in 2017

Akpeyi was a member of the Nigeria national under-20 football team at 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in Netherlands and was in the 22-man squad before the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, but did not see action in either tournament. He was also called up to the 23-man squad for the 2014 African Nations Championship as a backup to Chigozie Agbim.[7]

On 6 May 2014, Akpeyi was named in the 30-man provisional squad ahead of 2014 FIFA World Cup.[8]

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 lauded for his strong keeping in his Man of the Match performance.[9]

He was selected by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[10]

In May 2018 he was named in Nigeria's preliminary 30-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[11]

Akpeyi was included in the teams final 23-man list to 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.[12] He kept clean sheets in the team's first two matches. In the final group match Ikechukwu Ezenwa conceded twice in Nigeria's 2–0 defeat to Madagascar. Akpeyi returned to the starting line up in the round of 16 match against the indomitable lions of Cameroon where he conceded 2 goals in his teams 3 - 2 victory. He was also in goal in the teams Q. Final victory over South Africa and their 2 - 1 S. final lost to Algeria. Francis Uzoho was in goal for the third place match against Tunisia[13]

29th January 2020, Akpeyi prolonged his agreement with the South African Premier Soccer League by signing a two-year contract that will retain him with the Amakhosi until June 2022.[14]

Career statistics

International
As of match played 17 November 2019[15]
Nigeria
YearAppsGoals
201510
201630
201730
201820
2019100
Total190

Honours

Club
  • Nigerian FA Cup: Winner 2011, 2012

International
  • African Nations Cup: Bronze Medal, Egypt. 2019
  • FIFA U-20 World Cup: Silver Medal, Holland. 2005

References
  1. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  2. Akpeyi bails Owerri for Warri; SuperSport, 7 February 2014
  3. Nigeria: Heartland to Warri Wolves – Akpeyi Going No Where!; AllAfrica.com, 11 February 2014
  4. Wolves on full throttle; The Nation, 11 March 2014
  5. Salami Set For Debut Archived 8 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine; Soccer Laduma, 10 March 2014
  6. Two years for Daniel Akpeyi at Chippa United. In 2019 he joined Kaizer Chiefs and his debut game was soweto Derby played in FNB stadium on the 08th of February 2019. Kickoff.com (15 July 2015). Retrieved on 18 August 2016.
  7. Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi names weakened CHAN Squad; BBC Sport, 1 January 2014
  8. World Cup 2014: Peter Odemwingie in provisional Nigeria squad; BBC Sport, 6 May 2014
  9. Siasia Praises Akpeyi. Complete Sports Nigeria (29 March 2015). Retrieved on 18 August 2016.
  10. Oluwashina Okeleji (24 June 2016). "Kelechi Iheanacho included in Nigeria's Olympics squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  11. Crawford, Stephen (4 June 2018). "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists". Goal. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  12. Shittu, Ibitoye (11 June 2019). "AFCON 2019: Iwobi, Ndidi, 18 other Nigerian stars who will be making debut". Legit.ng. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  13. "Bronze for Nigeria as Super Eagles beat Tunisia 1-0 to win 3rd-place game of AFCON 2019". www.pulse.ng. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  14. "Akpeyi signs two-year Chiefs deal". www.msn.com. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  15. "Daniel Akpeyi". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
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