Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has admitted that his mental strength keeps him going in the face of constant criticism from fans and some of his teammates.
Akpeyi has endured criticism from fans in Nigeria as a result of high profile errors while on duty for the Super Eagles.
The Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa goalie was blamed for being out of position when Riyad Mahrez curled in a brilliant free-kick for the Desert Foxes of Algeria in a semi-final fixture at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
An error also led to a goal by Argentina in a 2018 pre-World Cup friendly. He picked up the ball outside his box, leading to a free-kick and a goal.
Despite the backlash, Akpeyi has however kept his place in the team and says he has learned to deal with it by shutting out criticism and staying strong.
“What helps me is my mental strength,” Akpeyi told ESPN.
“I really don’t follow the news about what is going on, especially when it comes to soccer from Africa and this part of the world.
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“Thank God I grew up with a mentor who taught me how to be mentally strong. With all I have learnt from my mentor, I can’t give up on myself. I am not going to prove a point to anybody, I only have to prove a point to myself that whatever I have been trained with actually works.”
Akpeyi says one of his teammates was on the phone predicting the end of his international career after the blunder he committed in the friendly against Argentina.
“When we got to the hotel, I overheard one of my teammates in the other room telling somebody on the phone ‘I don’t think he should be invited to the national team again; how can he concede that kind of goal.’
“My own team mate!
“He was just outside the room next to mine and talking. This is a professional footballer who plays in Europe.
“But I thank God, because it is by His Grace that I am here.”
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55 Comments
Akpeyi can endure for real!
Akpeyi, too hell with whatever call you heard about your teammates, don’t come here and scatter the team, you not suppose to be in our goal post, I blame the Alloy Agu we still investigating why you still in that team.
presh you re very stupid, for talking like this
Akpeyi has endured criticism from fans in Nigeria as a result of high profile errors while on duty for the Super Eagles.
Despite the backlash, Akpeyi has however kept his place in the team and says he has learned to deal with it by shutting out criticism and staying strong.
The Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa goalie was blamed for being out of position when Riyad Mahrez curled in a brilliant free-kick for the Desert Foxes of Algeria in a semi-final fixture at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
All I can say to you Akpeyi is to thank your God.
This is the reason why I will keep scoring coach Rohr as an average coach. This Akpeyi made almost the same error against Algeria in Nigeria at the world cup qualifiers and at Afcon.
Still, our world class coach kept the goalkeeper. He only impressed me once since he has been keeping for the Eagles.
They keeping saying local coaches are corrupt while the manager is not doing is job properly.
Akpeyi Nigerian no1, nawa o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Pls can u come up with better options. Let’s see a list of better options composed by you, “mr scout “. Failure to do so will confirm again ur stupidity. Pls, the list……
Stop wasting your time replying that ignoramus, I don’t know which goalkeeper that’s available for us now or maybe he expects Rohr to put on the gloves n man the sticks by himself. Out of desperation for search for a new goalie, Rohr and his scout team went as far as German 3rd division to unearth Okoye, who is still very much inexperience but the gaffer is still trying to instill confidence in him. When we try him in goal in a full match n we see his performance then we will know if he is better than Akpeyi. Uzoho is injured, for now Akpeyi is our only option. Even though, myself I don’t like his choice but we can’t manufacture a goalkeeper.
You’re right @ola but I just want him to furnish us with a comprehensive list of better options as the “chief scout” of super eagles just to prove his stupidity yet again .
Lolss.. I can’t stop laughing, “chief scout” tabi boys scout… Lol that omo9ja na real yeye guy. Which list he got? Have a blessed weekend jare my brother
@Oakfield, Chairmanfemi already answered your question.
As time goes on, the level of your maturity will change and your attitude will change as well. God bless you. God bless Nigeria!!!
God bless u too indeed bcs u need deliverance…..
It’s not hatred for Akpeyi as a person. It’s a lack of tolerance for avoidable errors.
There exists a direct proportional relationship between criticism and errors. An increase in errors results in increased activity from critics, and vice versa.
Akpeyi may have learned to live with criticism, which is great for his health and wellbeing. But Akpeyi must also do the needful, which is to consistently produce performances that inspire confidence. Fans can’t, and will never learn to live with a goalkeeper thay can’t trust, a goalkeeper that generates fear and anxiety in their hearts. Akpeyi has done ok in recent games. He needs to keep doing this to keep the critics at bay. Any lackadaisical or absent minded performances will be sure to reopen the floodgates of criticism, especially as past blunders are still fresh in the minds of fans.
CSN did not even do Akpeyi any favours with this pic. See the fear and apprehension in his face as he attempts to make a save. The guy looks terrified.
This is what fans see when he is in goal. His jittery, jumpy, nervous disposition.
I have a friend who is unable to sit down during Nigeria matches whenever Akpeyi is in goal. If you force him down on the couch, he will get up again. The guy has to always stand up. He says standing up helps him to cope with the anxiety. And whenever our opponents start attacking our vital area, the guy looks so scared! Many times, he will turn away from the telly. He can’t bear to watch.
Self confidence is very important. Fake it to make it. You have to look the part. People will trust you if you give them something to believe in.
Truth be told our goalkeeping department is not doing well in terms of talent and technique only God and Grace is what’s keeping us from embarrassment for the past two years or so after the exit of Vincent.
Guys let’s try to be fair as much as possible before scolding Omo9ja and presh if not for the insults he dished out at Akpeyi…. Akpeyi d basket!
assuming i see this guy after that algeria match, he won’t have mouth to be saying all this by now.
List of Nigerian Goalkeepers Alloy Agu has failed to call
1. Dele Aiyenugba
2. Dele Alampasu ( How Uzohor is being picked ahead of him still baffles me and yet he plays in cyprus)
Last time i checked, Vincent Enyeama started from the local league to play in the super Eagles. Or is oga Agu waiting for bribe too just to call up home grown goal-keepers. And this is where Rohr needs to stay in nigeria and watch some of our league games
Aiyenugba last played for the SE in 2011 (9 years ago). Alampasu last played league football 3 seasons ago…he just signed for a Latvia based club in February and hasn’t even played one game yet…. These are the ones Agu should call up ahead of Uzoho who was keeping clean sheets in Spain and Cyprus before his injury. Don’t worry, Agu should also call up Greg Etafia and Willy Okpara
Later you will claim you know more than BBC and ESPN put together…LMAO
Keeping clean sheets in spain and cyprus, very funny and he wasn’t a calamity too. Why was Akpeyi chosen ahead of him before the nations cup. Guess Akpeyi is the only player in his team because there is no defense, . Last time i checked, aiyenugba is still keeping in europe( Israel), same country Enyeama plyed his trade. Why hasn’t he being invited. How would you know his performance when you haven’t even watched his game. Really funny how you make case for players.
Many Goal keepers played well into there 40’s, so age has nothing to do with it
Uzoho was a calamity…? Apart from the error against Seychelles point out any other match he has kept with any errors leading to goals. Akpeyi was picked ahead of him for AFCON because he was more active in his club. Uzoho missed many games for Anothosis due to his transfer suspension.
3 coaches have come and gone before Rohr since Aiyenugba last wore a SE jersey…since you know more than even BBC and ESPN, maybe you also know something those coaches didn’t know.
If you have been watching Aiyenugba’s game as you want us to believe, you would have known that the 36 years old keeper has been struggling to get clubs in Israeli lower divisions for the past 3 seasons and hasn’t even played since last season….or that Alampasu hasn’t even played one league game for 3 seasons and both do not merit getting get invited ahead of Uzoho who averages 1 clean sheet every 3½ games in Spain and Cyprus whenever he’s not injured or an Akpeyi who is in the running to be named goalkeeper of the season in South Africa.
Many goalkeepers played until 40, but not the ones who don’t play regularly or struggling to get clubs in top divisions. Even Buffon who is still playing at the top level has left the international stage for the younger ones. It’s not as if Aiyenugba didn’t get his own chances in his prime too….he had his time in his prime and was everything but spectacular. If you like add Greg Etafia and Ambrose Vanzekin to your list…na u Sabi.
We’ve moved on.
Mr ade , this your comment shows you don’t know anything about football, pls learn from people who know
Please come over and teach me. Thought it was even a competent person am responding to. Rubbish
Enyeama was our saving grace for over 10years. Anytime he was not in goal Ejide and Aiyenugba were calamities waiting to happen. Even at that it took patience and persistence for Enyeama to mature to that level he got to. As at when we were managing Enyeama, we had Sam Okoye, Rotimi Sunday and Arugo monkey (Ejiaga or something – can’t recall his name now) were in the best forms of their lives yet we persisted with Vincent until he came of age. His first 20 caps as SE goalkeeper was nothing better than what Uzoho,Akpeyi and Ezenwa are giving us now. Even Degea’s first 2 seasons at Man U was calamitous….but with patience and persistence he won the club’s player of the season 3 seasons in a row.
We are currently reaping the fruits of 1. Not having a succession plan for Enyeama 2. Employing a Rockie manager for the SE all in the name of hiring exinternationals
The Akpeyi we are calling a basket is one of the reasons his club will be league champions this season after many years. He’s currently benching 3 national team goalkeepers and is in the running for the goalkeeper of the season in the same league that has the national team goalkeepers of 7 other countries including Ghana.
The Enyeama of 2014 took 10 years to make. Anybody expecting a better goalkeeper than the ones we have now should go and get us one with 20 International caps and above. Uzoho was almost getting there, 1 mistake against Seychelles, “fans” crucified him… Ezenwa made mistake, “fans” crucified him….I’m very sure the first mistake Okoye makes….”fans” will come and remind us he is a 4th division goalkeeper who shouldn’t be in the national team in the first place. The “boy scouts” who were shouting Afelokai up and down have gone quiet ever since the dude chop 4 against Togo homebased.
Goalkeepers need time…! We don’t have any goal keeping crises in the Super Eagles. We just need to give Uzoho, Maduka and the young ones time to mature. Rome was not built in a day.
Top marks Dr Drey!
@Drey, waoh! You are too much.
Dr Drey tell them ooo!! Exquisitely delivered.
Always spot on, DR DREY!
We sure need people like you around the national team!!
You words are like the hammer-head….it sends the nails home !!!
One luv, boss!!!
Waow Dr. Drey, how do you get all these information? Amazing the way you know so much football history. Keep it up. You are one of tbe reasons i visit complete football site cos your analysis are always spot on.
I’ve noticed the same thing. I made a suggestion sometime ago that CNS should compile the fans comments into a little book that could be release yearly. I could see the drawbacks as, composed in the heat of the moment, many submissions are not well structured. His write-ups would have been very educative.
Maybe we should attempt it now with the edit button.
Top marks to all of you guyz too. It’s always nice to read from you all. It’s just that it gets awkward when ‘some people’ want to lie to us about things that happened in the front of our presence (according to Giringori akabogu)
According to Dr Drey: “The Akpeyi we are calling a basket is one of the reasons his club will be league champions this season after many years. He’s currently benching 3 national team goalkeepers and is in the running for the goalkeeper of the season in the same league that has the national team goalkeepers of 7 other countries including Ghana.”
The daring saves in the clip below encapsulates Dr Drey’s points (Akpeyi does look funny but looks can be deceiving!):
https://youtu.be/QnxaTH8i5sk
Guy, u need to see a specialist about your eyes, work on your confidence, learn to talk to your defenders more and clearer, for me I don’t think you deserves to be our number one goalie, but I don’t see any better alternatives yet.
This Akpeyi guy?
This guy set a defensive wall for a free kick in the nation’s cup semi final, and then stood behind d same wall!!! This guy ran out of his 18 yard box in a Friendly and picked up the ball right in front of the ref.
Then the one most people overlook, the long range goal he conceded against Algeria during world cup qualifiers. Horrible positioning.
Akpeyi needs to improve abeg. Keepers make mistakes, he makes comical mistakes.
I think Mr Rohr should recall Ejide. Ejide is still playing actively in isreal first division. Ejide is as good as enyeama, i dont see much diffrence, anytime he steps in for enyeama, the guy has experience and he is a good keeper. He Can also guide the deffence with is experience. 34 years old is not too old for a keeper.
Oga Ejide was never half as good as Enyeama…let’s not decieve ourselves. He was at best good enough a deputy. The short period he was first choice under Vogts, we nearly didn’t qualify for AFCON and pressed calculators to Qualify from our group during the main tournament and crashed out in the qfinals. Keshi’s ill-fated 2015 AFCON non qualification started with Ejide in goal in our 2-3 home loss to Congo.
God just blessed us with Enyeama during the time he was around….all the rest (Etafia, Aiyenugba,Ejide) that deputised for him during that period where not more reliable than the ones we have in the SE today. Once Enyeama wasn’t around just be rest assured you won’t get any performance close to what he gives.
They’ve all had their time…. We’ve moved past them. There’s no point bringing back 36 year olds who weren’t spectacular for the national team at their prime. The time we will invest in them, let us invest it in these up and coming ones. Some people also invested time in Ejide and Enyeama before they got to the level they got to…it wasn’t that there were no better or older or more experienced goalkeepers between 2002 and 2004 when they were still cutting their teeth. We had Murphy Akanji in Malta, Ndubisi Egbo in Switzerland or so, Chijioke Ejiogu (Arugo monkey) in Julius Berger, Rotimi Sunday in Israel and late Sam Okoye in Rangers. But the coaches then stuck to green horns like Ejide and Enyeama because they were young and had prospects for the future. We currently have the likes of Uzoho, Maduka, Adeleke (the 19 year old in Israel), Osigwe, Aigboguns U20 goalkeeper and another 19yr old chap in Austria whom we should beam our focus on for now. I don’t know of those in the local league, but the so called best of them conceeded 4 against Togo and has been producing howlers for Enyimba in CAF club competitions this season.
@Dr Drey…that’s Tobias Lawal from Austria…u Sabi!
Daniel Akpeyi is good goalkeeper.
I have watched him man the post in 4 matches in the Super Eagles and have watched him man the post for Kaizer Chiefs club, South Africa.
I will say that he is always a different player when he plays for the national team.
I just believe he feels pressurized under national assignment.
In the Super Eagles, He has the likes of Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho to contend with for the number 1 spot.
In Kaizer Chiefs club, He is still the main goalkeeper with likes of Brylon Petersen, Bruce Bvuma, Karabo Molefe and Itumeleng Khune.
We all know Khune was number 1 for club and country before he got injured and ever since he recovered from injuries, Akpeyi is still the preferred safe hands for the club.
Khune is South African number 1 goalkeeper and captain. He is also the captain of the Club…Khune has not played for any other club…he has being with the club since 1999 as a teenager!
I still remember Akpeyi first full cap in 2015 when he replaced the injured Vincent Enyeama in that friendly vs. South Africa. He was voted man of the match!!!
I wish he can maintain that performance.
I think Gernot Rohr still has some faith in Akpeyi and I feel that as long as he maintains the same composure he exhibits in club assignment while on national duties, he will be around the team for a while. The young lads needs an experience guy around.
Akpeyi just need to keep cool and enjoy this game while on national duties.
Akpeyi – a case of DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE?
For club, he produces beast-like performances, and has a reputation that enables him to bench the likes of Itumeleng Khune and other reputable goalies.
For country, he is reduced to a jittery, nervous mess. Although it must be said that in recent games, he has done well.
So, what gives? Is it the tension of playing for his nation that is getting the best of him? Or is he being exposed by the NEXT LEVEL quality he faces at the international level? Not trying to take anything away from the dude, but facing local lads in the South African league is a far cry from facing the likes of Mahrez at the Afcon, or facing Aguero in an international friendly.
The bottom line is – Akpeyi’s performances in the green white green of Nigeria have been underwhelming, to say the least. This is the point blank truth. He may be a DINO ZOFF for his South African club, but in goal for Nigeria, he is a jittery mess, more often than not.
The way forward? Akpeyi needs someone to calm him down prior to international games. Someone to ease the nerves and anxiety he obviously suffers from.
Goalkeepers need time. Yes. But time is also a scarce resource. And when you have been at a job for as long as Akpeyi has been in our national team, and your performance shows that you’re still not up to speed, baba, na the door be dat ooooo. Especially if it is a highly sensitive, high exposure, high stakes job like GOALKEEPER.
I don’t care if na ya papa get the company. If ya papa doesn’t do the needful, someone or some people on the board will join forces to get rid of you and your papa from that company!
It’s just business. The board and shareholders will NEVER, EVER tolerate a mediocre person in a sensitive position, someone who’s failure to perform can negatively impact the company’s bottom line, and their personal bank accounts!
It is the same thing with football. As I said earlier, I don’t believe any fans have a personal vendetta against the Akpeyesque fellow. All Nigerian fans need is someone they can TRUST in goal. Akpeyi needs to step up his game and earn that trust!
He has done ok in recent games. We need more of that. And he is walking on a tight rope due to past blunders. He needs to sit up and continue to consistently produce performances that will make fans forget his past, and trust him. PERIOD.
That was a careless and misguided judgement from his teammate.Blunders do cost a team in professional sports and its inevitable in human life.Every now and again this flaws happens to professional sportsmen especially in football,but does not define a player it’s just a human error and one can be a victim irrespective of how good or bad you are.
However,what is more important is how you are able to psyche yourself to deal with the hostilities that comes with such difficult moments.Undeniably,it’s hard to deal with from fans and coaches and sometimes your employers comes hard on you,it’s a very difficult situation for any professional sportsman,but it’s reparable with the right frame of mind just like Akpeyi rightly said,focus,just focus on improving yourself get it right and the fans and press who were hard antagonist will later become a fan like the saying,success has many friends.
Meanwhile,Akpeyi has come of age especially post nations cup performances for both his club Keizer chiefs and super eagles respectively.It would be unfair for fans to judge him based on previous form because sportsmen are rated based on current form and if we should follow that trend then Akpeyi deserves a pat on the back for doing a good job for both club and country post nations cup.
Thank you very much Greenturf with your vibrant input on this matter. Where I diverge slightly is when you say that fans shouldn’t judge Akpeyi based on previous Super Eagles record.
I can say it authoritatively that Akpeyi’s record as Super Eagles goalkeeper stands up to scrutiny and compares much favourably with other Super Eagles goalkeepers.
Let’s examine this in more detail:
— Out of 18 national team games since 2016, Akpeyi’s *contributions* have helped the Super Eagles produce 11 victories and 3 draws ( which equates to 78% positive outcome for Nigeria with Akpeyi in goal).
*Note: I use the word ‘contributions’ in the sentence above because football is a team sport: defenders, attackers, midfielders and coaches all play their part.*
— Throughout Akpeyi’s Super Eagles career from 2016 to date, he has NEVER conceded more than 2 goals in any match for the Nigeria. So, this perception of him being a basket is gravely misplaced.
— Akpeyi has managed 5 clean sheets in 18 games for Nigeria (which roughly translated to 1 clean sheet per 3 games which is impressive by any standards)
Now, as a standalone set of statistics, Akpeyi’s record for the Super Eagles is very impressive indeed.
Yes, his demeanour and looks neither command respect not inspire confidence. However this has sadly created a mental blockage in the minds of many fans which will always compromise clarity in their efforts to objectively assess the ‘pure goalkeeping competencies’ of Daniel Akpeyi.
Has there been some comical moments? You betcha! But if I can be paid 1 Naira for every time a world class goalkeeper makes comical blunders, I will be a millionaire by now.
Perhaps Akpeyi says it best when he said recently:“Imagine that a week later (after the Afcon semi finals match) , Mahrez scored a similar goal in the English Premer League (against highly a rated goalkeeper) and the world did not come down.
But because it is Akpeyi, it was very easy for the bell to ring in people’s mind that Akpeyi is this, Akpeyi is that.” End of quote.
Sadly, that bell will always ring in minds distorted by a blockage brought about by their misconception of Akpeyi based on his demeanour and looks (and comical moments which every goalkeeper is guilty of).
https://youtu.be/7NYYa46qxW8
Thanks @Deo.Apparently,your input gives an insight into Akpeyi’s super eagles performances which unfortunately,there is no doubt,his flaws from the fans perspective outshone previous merits as outlined brilliantly in your post.
Immediately we considered that freekick i already suspected a goal, not becos of akpeyi but becos of mahrez freekick capability expecially from that close range. For me i didnt blame akpeyi for that goal, it was the the entire team fault. Enyeama considered freekick against angola that cost in kaduna and cost us 2006 world cup spot, enyeama considered a chip freekick from south korea at 2010 wcup, he also took in one from messi in 2014 wcup, he also accepted one from kenya in calaba enyeama error cost us 2014 quaterfinal spot, enyeama against ethiopia took the ball into the net by him self after saving the ball from a cross. Ike shurumu humbled him self for hiero chip free kick in france 98, ruffai collect one from maradona. we have also disgraced good keepers with freekicks as well. I remember jayjay against cameroun, moses simon against malawi, iheanacho against argentina and above all is emenike rocket against cotedevoir. As for akpeyi he is not bad at all, we are just raising alarms over his errors. It was our attackers and deffenders that failed us against algeria simple. If the team had repeated thesame riddim they played against south africa they couldnt have lost that match. Akpeyi is very good in one on one dangers and close dangers too. He saved us alot in the turnament.
Come let’s be sincere with ourselves here!
Akpeyi has done enough in the Super Eagles. We’ve tolerated enough. Both the ones typing good and bad Compliments above can all agree sincerely that whenever Akpeyi is in Goal for Nigeria and the Opponent come attacking, even if it’s lowly Somalia…HBP, Increased heart rate, Nerve sends down our spine, Increased swallowing of spits are all what happens to we viewers (either one of those things). Is that how we feel when Enyeama was in Goal?? Even when we were raising Enyeama up, he wasn’t as Jittery and Calamitous as Akpeyi..Yes! You could see the desire to improve and Confirm Confidence all over Enyeama then. So when he grew up to be the Undisputed, it wasn’t surprising to us all. Is that how we feel when little known Carl Ikeme came in?? No! Zero errors, confidence, Wow-ing Saves are Carl’s attributes.
Someone posted above, “Keepers makes mistake, Akpeyi makes COMICAL mistakes”- So true! So how long are we going to keep enduring Nonsense when it’s not like there are no Keepers again.
So bad Uzoho was demoted to the Second Goalie going in to AFCON cuz of his single mistake against Seychelles(His First in the Eagles shirt) and Coach Rohr placed his faith in Akpeyi that has made countless horrific mistakes. Well, he repayed the Confidence the Coach had in him by sending us out of same AFCON with that stupid positioning. Uzoho picked up from there and made smart saves against Tunisia, Ukraine and Brazil.
We’ve had enough of Akpeyi. He should go and keep impressing for Club cuz he’s definitely not a National team material. Yes! We have Young goal keepers that we can call up to displace him if the Coach knows what he’s doing.
Right on @Naijafootballers IG Page, a video of ADELEYE(a pure Nigerian Goalkeeper) was posted training. He plays in the Isreali League (2nd tier). And he’s a very sharp and Confidence is there in him. Why not try him out by inviting him to the National team and then try him in a match let’s see??
In the Isreali League too(2nd tier), we have AKPAN. Many are wondering who is AKPAN?? He was the Goalkeeper for the U-17 winning team of 2015 that paraded Oshimen, Chukwueze et al. He was brilliant in goal and made spectacular saves all through the tournament. He was once invited to the Flying Eagles camp there after and the rest is history. No one is keeping in touch with him again.
Already, We know Sebastian Osigwe, Dele ALAMPASU (though needs time to get back on the Field). 4 Good options plus Uzoho and Okoye. What are we still talking about??
And when this guys start coming in, the Coach should make sure Akpeyi is out of the team! Don’t keep him there in the name of Experience sake. He’s got nothing to instill in this young goalies except Jittering. Who else noticed the Jittery on Uzoho’s face against Poland and a few subsequent games?? Some point he puts on a bold face, and some point he switches to Akpeyi-kind of face. Why? Because he was being tutored by his predecessor in person of Akpeyi! So please whenever this new talents are coming in, Coach should please get rid of Akpeyi. That’s No.1 solution. Else they will tap the same fever.
Lastly, Get rid of Coach Alloy Agu too. Another poor Goal keeper trainer. Get a Better person devoid of corruption abeg. Thank you
#SoarSuperEagles
@Chairmanfemi, wow, you really impressed for the first time. So you knew the truth all this while but you did say it?
You are waking up as well. For you to say the truth, you have to be on your own. You most leave the carbal group. I know, they won’t like this but if you love your country, continue this way.
Coach Agu have failed likewise coach Rohr. Over the 3 years, both of the two coaches couldn’t find a better replacement for Ikeme. That Okoye is a good goalie. For now, we can say our young keepers are better and they can replace the old ones. Uzoho, Alanpasun, Okoye and Osage are the best we have now.
By question is, can coach Rohr and Agu build confidence in these golies? Instead of Akpeyi? Coach Rohr and should go back and watch Enyeama clips and see how he started.
Young goal keeper trainer should be Enyeama to handle the position of coach Agu.
Enyeama and Ikeme are the best for the position. It is good to have young coaches than the old ones because our players are young and they can relate with their coaches so well. We also have Rufai and Ike as well.
We should stop deceiving ourselves in this country. Enough is enough, Akpeyi should step aside jęję. God bless Nigeria!!!
what is the difference btw Akpeyi’s built wall prior to Mahrez freekick and Enyeama’s built wall prior to Messi’s freekick 2014 w.c dat was also a clean beating??
Vincent Enyeama wud av let dat Mahrez curler in too…
Well..people that want Akpeyi out of the Super Eagles, I salute una and I understand your pain(Pressure).and people that still want him around, I greet una too because after Uzoho’s Injury, Nobody to tackle Akpeyi, he’s the best we have so far but my concern is this…
When you people kept complaining about Akpeyi with good club side performance, what about Ezenwa? Can u remind me of any of his performance from 9ja league that makes him deserve eagles call? What was his performance at the last Chan and wafu cup? Was he like chilavert then?.
Those new keepers should grow quick…as I want the best for Super Eagles.
Nigerian fans and their get rid off mentality for every player error. And they are looking for the next quick replacement that does not make errors forgetting that no player or sports man can perform at his best 24,7,365 days. There are always highs and lows in everyone’s careers or good and bad days too. That does not make you a bad sportsman. The present SE fans or African fan forgets all your days of performance and crucifies you for any mistake. Even when the failure is a team failure, they prefer to make their victim the scape goat. In other to get rid of him and bring in the one they think is faultless only to be disappointed in future.
In my opinion, we don’t have a goal keeper crises. Akpeyi, Ezenwa and Uzoho are not doing badly. Ezenwa played most of the Afcon qualifiers and was decent only one or so erros and we called for his head.Uzoho kept the post briliantly in the World cup and with one error against Secheles we called for his head. In the last Afcon, Akpeyi made several saves that kept us in the competition, but we turn blind eyes to them because it is Apeyi. But the error in positioning in the semi-final is the reason to call him a basket. If he was that bad, how come we got to the Semi-final. Or you think the game against Cameroon and South-Africa, he was not called to action.
Why are we not talking about Ndidi that kept conceeding free kicks in the danger areas up to three times in the AFCON and one of which led to the Marez goal. So Ndidi is now above blame only Akeyi, should be continually blamed.
So he is so bad yet German coaches like Genet Rohr of Nigeria and Ernst Middendorp of Keizer Chiefs continue to keep faith in him and he is not letting them down.
The records speak for itself both in Nigeria and in South African league and only proves he is a good goalkeeper. Out of 18 games we have only lost 4 times when he was in the post, including 5 clean sheets.
All our great legends of the game from Yekini, Okocha, Rufai, Enyama, Igahalo, Mikel, Musa, all have made mistakes at different times but it is left for us to either forget all their high points and keep blocking our minds with their low points, or to be objective in our judgement and choose players based on current form and club perfomances. This truth remains that “The beautiful ones are not yet born.” or Angels are in heaven.
look straight into akpeyi eyes u notice his eyes balls are bend to left side. am not joking. take one of his video clip and look at his eyes. so let not too blame him.
From my observation based on watching the beautiful game, here’s what i believe are the job requirements of a good goalkeeper. I’ll give you my rating, out of 10, for the one we call Daniel Akpeyi.
Shot stopping: This is the minimum requirement of a goalkeeper. You are expected to just about stop all shots hit directly at you or from long range, and a great majority of those hit to your near-post at tight angles. A keen sense of positioning and anticipation is required to master this skill. An added bonus is athleticism which helps in making reflex saves. Akpeyi is good at this (8.8)
Aerial Control: This is often the skill that develops last in goalies. The ability to control your six by knowing when to cut off a cross, catch it, or punch it away. Again anticipation and also confidence are needed plus tons of practice dealing with crosses. This skill is truly a technical aspect of goalkeeping (5.5)
Solid hands: this involves holding onto crosses, parrying saved shots away from incoming attackers and also having what they call a strong hand (Enyeama’s save off Messi in 2010 comes to mind). Tons of practice and solid coaching develops this skill (6.)
Defensive Marshal: Needed here is a goalie who reads the game well and can anticipate danger a few steps ahead. He positions his defenders to cover imminent gaps and acts as a sweeper as a last resort. He organizes them during corners and builds the wall positioning during freekicks. This is the hardest for me to rate as I don’t know what the game plans are or what’s being said on the field. However based on how it looks on TV, Akpeyi just doesn’t seem to inspire much confidence in his Super Eagles backline. (5)
Awareness/Judgement: Have a keen sense of what is happening around you and making the correct split decisions. This includes such decisions as “was that an intentional backpass or not?”, “should i stay in my post or close out the space”, “am i inside or outside my 18?”….and many others. Here experience is the best teacher so it is a skill that can be honed. However, some possess this innately while others don’t. (6 and i thought hard about this one)
In summary, Akpeyi is an above average to very good shot stopper and is actually quite good at making reflex saves. However is average to below average on a lot of other aspects of his craft. Some of these deficiencies are fixable with experience and the proper coaching which quite frankly one isn’t sure he has received up to this point in his career. Perhaps a move to Europe may afford him that opportunity but who knows.
I’m sure you guys can add to what I’ve posited. Happy Sunday!
Awoniyi just scored for Mainz. He has come off the bench to score his first bundesliga goal for Mainz since he’s been there on loan.
Yea @ Lord AMO. Following the game too.
I just hope he sustains his momentum for these last games of the season so he can get a reasonable club to sign for on a permanent basis and cut himself loose from his Liverpool bondage.
I don’t know why our youngsters are obsessed with signing for EPL teams when it’s obvious they wouldn’t even get a work permit talk more of playing for the first teams. Getting loaned out every 6months for more than a year does more harm than good to young players careers.
How u dey bro?
Sometimes I wonder if the decision is not in their hands. As we can probably deduce, its the greedy handlers of the boys that make decisions that aren’t necessarily in their best interests that are to blame. Hopefully the mistakes of the current ones would serve as a lesson for the up and coming ones
God bless you bro! I have always been asking myself that question too. The same thing happened to Nwakali brothers, yahyah etc. I don’t know if they don’t have good advisers. They sign for big clubs only for them to be loaned out. By the time they get to understand what the coach want from them, their loan contract will have already expired and sometimes without even getting any game time. In less than two years they’ve already globetrotted the whole of europe.
After listening to Awoniyi in one of his interview I really feel for him and i hope he gets enough playing time before the end of the season so that he can cut off himself from his parent club because that boy is indeed very young.
I thought some people said Oshimen should leave Lille and go to Juventus. I bet you he will warm the bench real good
I agree with Chairmanfemi and other like minded forumites.
I’m not saying we MUST get rid of Akpeyi. Noooooooo.
However, the dude needs to maintain the current upward trajectory, performance wise, because Nigeria fans can’t go back to the Akpeyi that absent-mindedly picked up the ball outside the 18 yard box in the Argentina friendly! And then instead of kicking or throwing it out of bounds, handed the ball to Aguero, of all people! You might as well be in a war, and then hand your gun to your enemy! His presence of mind and decision making…..he needs to work on this!
I’m not going to list his faux pas moments here, because there is no benefit to be derived in that. If we say fans have a MENTAL BLOCKAGE because of his demeanor and looks, how about his errors. His errors have been NUMEROUS ENOUGH, that is why he’s earned this unfortunate reputation. Nigerian fans are actually inclined to support, and even hype their own. And when we see effort, industry, confidence and courage in a player, even if the player is not world class talent wise, we support that player! Mentally and emotionally, the Akpeyi that is in goal for his club is not the same as the one in goal for Nigeria. The task before us is to sync the two personalities.
If we can eliminate MR HYDE and sustain DR JEKYLL, then Akpeyi and Nigeria will be much better for it!
I think this is the right time to start hunting for new goalkeepers especially now that we are one or two victories away from qualifying for NC. I am of the opinion that Akpeyi days in the eagles is over after the last NC but luckily for him the injury to uzoho that gave him another chance. Looking at the way things are going now, he seems to just be a stop gap till uzoho will come back. Anyway i want the coach to start giving call up to new young goalkeepers. Honestly, I fear Akpeyi might cost us in big games if he still continues to man the post especially in big tournament as as WC.
what is the difference btw Akpeyi’s built wall prior to Mahrez freekick and Enyeama’s built wall prior to Messi’s freekick dat was also a clean beating??
Vincent Enyeama wud av let dat Mahrez curler in too…