Akpeyi: I won’t be playing against Tunisia — here’s why

Daniel Akpeyi has disclosed to TheCable that he won’t be starting the third-place match against Tunisia at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.

Akpeyi also revealed that Francis Uzoho will man the goal post in the winner takes all clash against the Carthage Eagles at the El Salam stadium.

He, however, explained Gernot Rohr’s reason for the change in the Wednesday match, saying it is not attributed to the 2-1 loss semi-final match to Algeria.

Riyad Mahrez won the match for Algeria four minutes after the full-time mark when his free-kick was perfectly placed over the wall and beyond Akpeyi into the net to lead Les Fennecs to the final for the second time in their history and the first since 1990.

Nigerians blamed the Kaizer Chiefs save hands for the last-minute free-kick gasp which condemned the Eagles to the third-place match.

“Tomorrow’s game I am not going to be playing against Tunisia,” Akpeyi told TheCable.

“Uzoho is starting the Tunisian game tomorrow. Before people will start thinking it’s because Mahrez scored me a free-kick that made the coach not to start me, it is not.

“The coach told me even before now because he said he wants to give every player he brought to the AFCON opportunity to play.

“You know it’s funny how people easily spread rumour about things they are not privy to? They don’t know what’s happening in house but will say what they are not knowledgeable about.

“Same thing happened during the Argentina friendly ahead of the World Cup preparation last year, where the coach told me before the game that Uzoho will come in the second half of play.

“And when Suarez scored and Uzoho came on in the second half, everyone kept saying it was because they scored him that was why.

“Coincidentally, the same thing is going to happen tomorrow. It’s just that the coach wants to give everybody a chance to play.

“But maybe if I had gotten into the final, I could have played as well but look, Uzoho is also a good goalkeeper.”

The Super Eagles will slug the bronze medal position out with Tunisia, 8pm Nigerian time.