“Nigeria must emulate the rise of South African football” – Akpeyi

Daniel Akpeyi (right) and the goalkeepers of Marumo Gallants. Photo Credit: Marumo Gallants

Nigerian goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has given a positive review of the rise of South African football.

The Marumo Gallants safest pair of hands is impressed by the level of competition in the Betway Premiership and how Hugo Broos has shaped the senior national team, Bafana Bafana.

The 38-year-old shot-stopper joined the Premier Soccer League in July 2015 and he has expressed excitement about Bafana Bafana’s performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, urging Nigeria to emulate the success story of South African domestic football.

Akpeyi said: “The standing in the World Cup qualifiers group is a clear reflection that South African football is higher. You can have big players, but coming up with a team is something that many fail to do,” Akpeyi told FARPost.

“But South Africa has managed to do that with ease under Hugo Broos. Of course, as a Nigerian, I am disappointed with how we have played the World Cup qualifiers.

“But we all should follow how it has been done by South Africa. The growth and progress have been due to several factors, including team effort.

“We [Nigeria] could be like Bafana Bafana if we have players who play for the country and not for themselves. That has been the major difference between us; in South Africa, there is no individuality."

“I strongly believe that we [Nigeria] deserve to be in first position. Right now, we lack so many fundamentals that South Africa has. That also includes cohesion and identity.”

Nigeria sit 4th in Group C with 7 points, a point behind Benin and Rwanda and six away from leaders South Africa after six qualifying matches. Lesotho are 5th on the log on six points with Zimbabwe bottom on 4 points.