Rivers United goalkeeper, Abiodun Akande wants a chance to strut his stuff for Nigeria at senior level and will relish a call-up when the squad for the upcoming African Nations Championships (CHAN) qualifi ers is announced. Akande produced a manof-the-match display as Rivers United lost 1-2 to Moroccan club, FUS Rabat in the Caf Confederation Cup on Friday. Th e goalkeeper is now looking to go one better by representing his country at full international level and is targeting a call-up when Nigeria face the winner of the fi rst round qualifying between Togo and Benin Republic in round two. “I will love get an invitation to play in the Chan qualifi ers but I know I will only have a chance with consistent displays,” Akande said “Th ere are so many good goalkeepers in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) so I know that competition will be stiff .
“But I am willing to work hard and hopefully, I will get the chance to prove my worth,” he said. Akande concluded by discussing the ouster of Rivers United from the 2017 Caf Confederation Cup as well as the club’s aspirations for the rest of the season. “It was painful to lose out the way we did because expectations were quite high. “To be honest, we made life diffi cult for ourselves when we lost at home to Club Africain. “Now, we have to focus on the NPFL and the (Aiteo) Cup and do well in both competitions to make the fans happy,” he said
