South Africa-based Daniel Akpeyi will be on Nigeria squad to the Rio Olympics as one of the over-aged players and he will top-choice goalkeeper ahead of Emmanuel Daniel in Brazil.
Akpeyi, who plays for Chippa United in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League, is a late inclusion to Nigeria’s provisional list as one of several over-aged players and he is now set to be selected as one of the three over-aged players in the squad.
The 29-year-old was initially not in contention for a place in the squad, as Nigeria U23 coach Samson Siasia had listed only outfield players as possible over-aged for the Games, but appears to have had a change of heart.
“Dan (Akpeyi) was not on the list before but coach (Siasia) realises he needs an experienced goalkeeper in the squad especially after the Korea tournament,” a source within the team informed.
Akpeyi is expected to resume for pre-season on July 6 with his club and while he will not be with the ‘Dream Team’ all through a training camp in US later this month, he is however expected to join them in time for the Games in Brazil.
The goalkeeper has previously worked with Siasia and was a member of the silver-winning FIFA U20 World Cup class of 2005 and was also part of Nigeria’s Olympic squad in 2008 also coached by Siasia.
The latest being the ill-fated 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt, of which Siasia was the Super Eagles coach on an interim capacity and Akpeyi was in goal in the return leg in Alexandria.