Chippa goalkeeper is fired up for Cup stage
CHIPPA United’s Nigerian goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi will fly the Absa Premiership flag at the Fifa World Cup in Russia starting next Thursday.
The 31-year-old shotstopper of Nnewi, Nigeria will be the only Premier Soccer League player making an appearance at this year’s World Cup.
The Super Eagles secured their ticket to Russia after finishing top of Group B ahead of Zambia, Cameroon and Algeria in qualifying.
Nigeria have been drawn in Group D of the World Cup alongside Argentina, Iceland and Croatia for the tournament.
Coach Genor Rohr announced his 23-man squad on Sunday.
Akpeyi’s name was listed along with fellow goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Francis Uzoho.
Chippa’s chief operations officer Lukhanyo Mzinzi said the club are very excited for Akpeyi.
“As the Chippa United family, on behalf of the chairman Siviwe Mpengesi, we are overwhelmed by Daniel Akpeyi’s achievement of making the final 23 in the Nigerian squad making its way to the Russia World Cup,” said Mzinzi.
“This shows there is something good that we are doing as the club. We are excited. He has been very consistent and loyal to the club and we wish him all the best. We know that he is going to do very well.”
Mzinzi added that the goalkeeper’s success was also a tap on the shoulder for the Chilli Boys to continue unearthing talent.
“If you look carefully at the PSL club’s Chippa United has been consistently coming out with new players every season. These new players have been appreciated by the likes of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Bidvest Wits and other clubs.
“When you look at the PSL now, almost all the big clubs have a player who came from Chippa United. We are quite excited about that,” he said.
Akpeyi said making his first World Cup finals was a dream come true.
“This is going to be my first World Cup and hopefully I will get a chance to play,” he said.
“There is always pressure from Nigerians for their team to get results. Everybody is expecting you to be on top form and to play a very good role as well.
“There is pressure, but as a professional player you just have to do what you have to do knowing very well that people are looking up to you.”
Akpeyi is not new to the national team set-up as he was in the Nigerian Olympics team that won a bronze medal two years ago.
Akpeyi was also a member of the Nigeria U20 national team at 2005 Fifa World Youth Championship in the Netherlands and was in the 22-man squad at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but did not see any action.
He was also called up to the 23-man squad for the 2014 African Nations Championship as a backup to Chigozie Agbim and in that same year he was in the Super Eagles provisional squad for the World Cup in Brazil but never made the final team.