Waidi Akanni

Last updated

Personal information
Full name Waidi Akanni
Date of birth (1968-06-20) 20 June 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1980 NAOC FC
1981–1982 KODA FC
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1987–1989 Howard University
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1983–1985 NEPA Lagos
1985–1986 Flash Flamingoes
1990 Boston Bolts
? Maryland FC
International career
1984–1985 Nigeria U20 ??
1986–1989 Nigeria ??
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 July 2009

Waidi Akanni, also known as Waheed Akanni, (born 20 June 1968) is a former Nigerian football defender and former head of the Lagos State Football Association. [1]

Contents

Career

Born in Surulere, Lagos State, Akanni began playing football for local side NEPA Lagos in 1983. [2] He joined another local side, Flash Flamingoes, in 1985.

In 1988, Akanni attended Howard University in the United States, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering. He played for the university's soccer team and was the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship runner-up and the team's leading scorer with sixteen goals. [3] He was also selected to the All-American first team. While in the United States, he also played for Boston Bolts and Maryland FC. [2]

Akanni played for the Nigeria national under-20 football team that won the bronze medal at the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship finals in the Soviet Union. He would also play for the senior Nigeria national football team, appearing in a 1988 African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Sierra Leone [4] and a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Cameroon. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michel Platini</span> French association football player, manager and administrator

Michel François Platini is a French football administrator and former player and manager. Regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Platini won the Ballon d'Or three times in a row, in 1983, 1984 and 1985, and came seventh in the FIFA Player of the Century vote. In recognition of his achievements, he was named a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 1985 and became an Officier in 1998. As the president of UEFA in 2015 he was banned from involvement in football under FIFA's organisation, over ethics violations. The ban lasted until 2023.

The Nigeria national football team represents Nigeria in men's international football. Governed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), they are three-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners, with their most recent title in 2013. In February 2024, the Nigerian national football team was ranked 28th in the FIFA rankings. The team has qualified for six of the last eight FIFA World Cups, missing only the 2006 and 2022 editions. They have reached the round of 16 on three occasions. Their first World Cup appearance was in the 1994 edition. The team is a member of FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morocco national football team</span> Mens association football team

The Morocco national football team represents Morocco in men's international football, and is controlled by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Morocco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghana national football team</span> Association football team

The Ghana national football team represents Ghana in men's international football. The team is named the Black Stars after the Black Star of Africa in the flag of Ghana. It is governed by the Ghana Football Association, the governing body for football in Ghana. Prior to 1957, it played as the Gold Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tunisia national football team</span> Mens association football team

The Tunisia national football team represents Tunisia in men's international association football. The team is a member of both FIFA and CAF, the Confederation of African Football. It is governed by the Tunisian Football Federation, founded in 1957. Colloquially known as the Eagles of Carthage, the team's colours are red and white, and the bald eagle is its symbol. Most of Tunisia's home matches are played at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès since 2001.

The FIFA U-17 World Cup, founded as the FIFA U-16 World Championship, later changed to U-17 in 1991 and to its current name in 2007, is the annual world championship of association football for male players under the age of 17 organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The current champion is Germany, which won its first title at the 2023 tournament.

Uchechukwu Alozie “Uche” Okechukwu, also known as Deniz Uygar, is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Keshi</span> Nigerian footballer and manager

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi was a Nigerian football player and manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Football in Nigeria</span>

Football is the most popular sport in Nigeria. The Nigeria national football team competes regularly for international titles and many Nigerian footballers compete in Europe, particularly in England. Nigeria has one of the finest national teams in Africa and has produced many notable footballers including Mudashiru Lawal, Rashidi Yekini, Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo, Mikel John Obi and Victor Osimhen.

William Nwadinobi Okpara is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Having started his career with ACB Lagos, he spent more than a decade with South African side Orlando Pirates.

Michael (“Mike”) Edirin Obiku is a retired Nigerian football striker. He is currently coach at Feyenoord Rotterdam's Soccer Schools.

The qualification process for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup saw 67 teams from the six FIFA confederations compete for the 16 places in the tournament's finals. The places were divided as follows:

Thompson Usiyan was a Nigerian professional footballer who played as a forward. He holds the NCAA Division I career scoring record and played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League and Continental Indoor Soccer League. He was a member of the Nigerian Olympic soccer team which boycotted the 1976 Olympics. He made several appearances for the Nigeria national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Akpoborie</span> Nigerian former football forward

Jonathan Akpoborie is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward and spent the majority of his playing career in Germany.

Érick Cecilio Vallecillo Paguada is a Honduran football defender, who currently plays for USA fourth tier-side Miami United.

Bala Ali was a footballer who played as a winger for clubs in Nigeria and Greece.

Godwin Odiye is a former Nigeria international football defender.

Ademola Adeshina is a former Nigeria international football midfielder. He is currently the technical advisor of Nigeria National League team Prime F.C.

The Liberia women's national football team represents Liberia in international women's football. It is governed by the Liberia Football Association. It has played in five FIFA recognized matches.

Chinwendu Veronica Ihezuo is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga MX Femenil club Pachuca and the Nigeria women's national team.

References

  1. "Nigeria: Isiguzo, Akanni to Analyse on Daarsat Sports". Vanguard. Nigeria. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2019 via AllAfrica.
  2. 1 2 "I missed US '94 World Cup because I rejected Westerhof's advice-Waheed Akanni". The Liberation News. 13 January 2011.
  3. N.C.A.A. SOCCER; Indiana Will Face Howard in Final
  4. Cazal, Jean-Michel (2 February 2005). "International Matches 1987 - Africa". RSSSF .
  5. Courtney, Barrie (2 February 2005). "International Matches 1989 - Africa". RSSSF .