Super Eagles introduced traditional attire to football, says Akpeyi

William Troost-Ekong leading Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi as the Super Eagles disembarked from the chartered aircraft in Abidjan.

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, has said that Nigeria introduced the concept of wearing traditional attires to major events.

Akpeyi, who currently plays club football with Moroka Swallows FC in South Africa, was a guest analyst at SuperSports studio for yesterday’s AFCON match between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.

“It is good to see most of the teams playing in this year’s AFCON tournament arrive in Cote d’Ivoire appearing in their traditional attires. We must give credit to the Super Eagles because we were the first team to appear in traditional attires at Russia 2018 World Cup. It caught the attention of many people across the World, and that is what other teams have copied till today,” he stated.

Akpeyi, a former goalkeeper with Kaizer Chiefs, made his first full cap in 2015, in a friendly against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa as a replacement for an injured Vincent Enyeama. He saved a penalty and was lauded for his strong performance that won him Man of the Match award.

Akpeyi, who predicted a 2-1 victory for the Super Eagles in yesterday’s match against Equatorial Guinea, said the team has the materials to make good impact against Cote d’Ivoire.

But Akpeyi, who is nicknamed the Amakhosi, blamed the Super Eagles for allowing Equatorial Guinea to score the first goal, saying: “If a team comes to you showing so much respect, and you failed to hit them hard, they will gather more confidence and cause problem for you. That was what happened in the first goal. I still see the Super Eagles getting it right.

On the choice of goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali for the first match, Akpeyi said: “This