38-year-old Super Eagles star brushes off retirement talks amid praise from South African legend

Soccer

Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has suggested he has no plans to retire from football just yet, despite facing limited opportunities on the pitch in recent months, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 38-year-old, who last played for South African side Marumo Gallants, found himself out of action since September after enduring a tough outing against Mamelodi Sundowns, where he conceded three goals before being substituted.

Soccer Super Eagles star Daniel Akpeyi
Photo by IMAGO

Get Our Sports News First – Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!

His subsequent absence from the starting XI has fueled speculation about his future.

However, Akpeyi recently posted a video compilation of his best saves on Instagram, showing highlights from his time with the Super Eagles and Kaizer Chiefs.

The video tagged ‘Joy is coming‘ caught the attention of his former teammate and South African icon Itumeleng Khune, who took to social media to heap praise on Akpeyi.

“One of the best to grace our shores. Respect, Papa D,” Khune wrote, resharing Akpeyi’s video on his Instagram stories.

Soccer Super Eagles star Daniel Akpeyi

Akpeyi responded warmly, saying,

“Skipper, you are simply the best. Big love.”

Akpeyi’s time with Marumo Gallants has been far from ideal.

He joined the club at the start of the season following their acquisition of Moroka Swallows’ league status.

Despite early appearances, including a substitute cameo against Kaizer Chiefs and starts against Golden Arrows and Sundowns, injuries and form have sidelined Akpeyi since September.

Soccer Super Eagles star Daniel Akpeyi
LAGOS, NIGERIA. NOVEMBER 16: Akpeyi Daniel, Super Eagles of Nigeria during the 2022 World Cup Qualifier between Nigeria and Cape Verde Cape Verde at Teslim Balogun Stadium on November 16, 2021 in Nigeria. Photo by IMAGO

He has only made the bench once for the Gallants, who are struggling defensively this season.

According to SNL24 reports, Akpeyi is on his way out of Marumo Gallants, raising questions about his next move even as his posted video reveals he is still expecting a coming joy.

Soccer Super Eagles star Daniel Akpeyi
FRANCE OUT July 6, 2019: Daniel Akpeyi of Nigeria celebrating Nigeria scoring to 3-2 during the 2019 African Cup of Nations match between Cameroon and Nigeria at the Alexanddria Stadium in Alexandria, Egypt. /CSM. Cameroon v Nigeria – 2019 African Cup of Nations. Photo by IMAGO

Despite his recent challenges, Akpeyi’s career boasts notable achievements, including 18 caps for Nigeria and a bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he was the Super Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper.

However, Akpeyi has not featured for Nigeria since the 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs against Ghana.

Soccer Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele


Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele

Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.

From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.

Read MoreImhonlamhen Eronmhonsele

Latest

Take-Two CEO Addresses Grand Theft Auto 6 Price, and the Possibility for More L.A. Noire

How much would "the most spectacular piece of entertainment on Earth" cost? Updated : Apr 29, 2026 12:11am UTC Speaking at iicon today, a new conference for video game executives , Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed the much-debated question of how much Grand Theft Auto 6 will cost. He declined to confirm the game’s price

Roundup: Here’s What The Reviews Are Saying About ‘Aphelion’ On Xbox Game Pass

The latest title from Don't Nod! by Ben Kerry Yesterday, 2pm Sci-fi adventure Aphelion is rolling out now on Xbox Game Pass as the next game from Life is Strange maker DON'T NOD Entertainment - and that means early reviews for the title are now hitting the web too. We're going to gather some of

The Star Entertainment Group’s Q3 Report Shows Significant EBITDA Improvement

Australian casino & hospitality business The Star Entertainment Group has published its financial report for the three months ended March 31, 2026 (Q3). The company’s financials outlined a significant reduction in the company’s EBITDA loss. The Star’s EBITDA Loss Narrowed   According to the report, The Star’s Q3 revenue was AUD 266 million ($190.7 million)

Newsletter

Don't miss

Take-Two CEO Addresses Grand Theft Auto 6 Price, and the Possibility for More L.A. Noire

How much would "the most spectacular piece of entertainment on Earth" cost? Updated : Apr 29, 2026 12:11am UTC Speaking at iicon today, a new conference for video game executives , Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed the much-debated question of how much Grand Theft Auto 6 will cost. He declined to confirm the game’s price

Roundup: Here’s What The Reviews Are Saying About ‘Aphelion’ On Xbox Game Pass

The latest title from Don't Nod! by Ben Kerry Yesterday, 2pm Sci-fi adventure Aphelion is rolling out now on Xbox Game Pass as the next game from Life is Strange maker DON'T NOD Entertainment - and that means early reviews for the title are now hitting the web too. We're going to gather some of

The Star Entertainment Group’s Q3 Report Shows Significant EBITDA Improvement

Australian casino & hospitality business The Star Entertainment Group has published its financial report for the three months ended March 31, 2026 (Q3). The company’s financials outlined a significant reduction in the company’s EBITDA loss. The Star’s EBITDA Loss Narrowed   According to the report, The Star’s Q3 revenue was AUD 266 million ($190.7 million)

The Vogue Business Funding Tracker

Introducing the Vogue Business Funding Tracker, a running list highlighting the most notable and intriguing investment and M&A activity in fashion and beauty. From emerging disruptors to legacy giants undergoing major changes, we spotlight the deals that are shifting the dynamics of the sectors we cover, including fashion, beauty, tech and sustainability. April 2026 Icicle

Family Business? Tee Grizzley Reacts After His Mom Accuses Him Of Leaving Her To Struggle (PHOTOS)

Y’all… it looks like some family tension might be brewing behind the scenes involving Tee Grizzley and his mom. What seemed like a regular social media post quickly turned into something deeper. And now, folks are side-eyeing the situation and wondering what’s really going on. RELATED: Tee Grizzley Shares A Message For Artists After His

SoE necessary but not sufficient, business leaders say

PE­TER CHRISTO­PHER Se­nior Mul­ti­me­dia Re­porter pe­ter.christo­pher@guardian.co.tt Heavy hand­ed but nec­es­sary giv­en the state of crime in T&T. This was a com­mon as­sess­ment from var­i­ous busi­ness groups when asked for their per­spec­tive on the lat­est de­c­la­ra­tion of a state of emer­gency in the coun­try. The T&T Cham­ber of In­dus­try and Com­merce, in a re­leased is­sued yes­ter­day