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LequteMan
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Nigerian goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has blamed the referee for the error which led to him conceding a goal in the recent friendly game against Argentina.
Akpeyi said he was well aware of the rules before handling the ball outside the 18-yard-box.
Although Argentina had a legitimate complain as the referee did not blow the whistle, television images showed Porto’s Chidozie Awaziem backing Akpeyi, informing the referee that the linesman’s flag was up.
“When Akpeyi saw the linesman with the flag, his mind did not tell him that the referee did not blow the whistle,’’ a source close to Daniel Akpeyi said.
“He just dropped the ball to play the offside. It really broke his heart that they scored from the free-kick, and people will forget about the saves he made during the game.”
Nigeria eventually won the game 4-2, coming back from a two-goal deficit.
Akpeyi said he was well aware of the rules before handling the ball outside the 18-yard-box.
Although Argentina had a legitimate complain as the referee did not blow the whistle, television images showed Porto’s Chidozie Awaziem backing Akpeyi, informing the referee that the linesman’s flag was up.
“When Akpeyi saw the linesman with the flag, his mind did not tell him that the referee did not blow the whistle,’’ a source close to Daniel Akpeyi said.
“He just dropped the ball to play the offside. It really broke his heart that they scored from the free-kick, and people will forget about the saves he made during the game.”
Nigeria eventually won the game 4-2, coming back from a two-goal deficit.