Daniel Akpeyi is a Nigerian football goalkeeper who plays for Chippa United. He was born on August 3, 1986 in Nnewi and is married to Emmanuella Akpeyi.
Akpeyi began his football career with Gabros International F.C. from where he was promoted to the first team in 2005. He later moved to Nasarawa United F.C. in January 2007.
After his time in Nasarawa F.C, Akpeyi joined Heartland F.C. for their 2010 CAF Champions League campaign, and was again first-choice. In February 2014, it was announced that he had left Heartland to join league rivals Warri Wolves, but the move was denied by an official statement few days later, stating that Heartland F.C had no intention to sell their first choice goalkeeper. In the following month, however, the deal was confirmed again and Akpeyi joined Warri Wolves. In 2015, he signed a two-year deal with Chippa United, a South African club.
Akpeyi was a member of the Nigeria national under-20 football team at 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in Netherlands and was in the 22-man squad before the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, but did not see action in either tournament. He was also called up to the 23-man squad for the 2014 African Nations Championship as a backup to Chigozie Agbim.
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On 6 May 2014 Akpeyi was named in the 30-man provisional squad ahead of 2014 FIFA World Cup.
In 2015, he made his first full cap when he was called in for the friendly vs. South Africa as a replacement for an injured Vincent Enyeama. He saved a penalty and was lauded for his strong keeping in his Man of the Match performance. He was then selected by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics where he earned a bronze medal.
In May 2018 he was named in Nigeria’s preliminary 30-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
