Waidi Akanni

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]

Personal information
Full name Waidi Akanni
Date of birth (1968-06-20) 20 June 1968
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
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1989 Howard University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1985 NEPA Lagos
1985–1986 Flash Flamingoes
1990 Boston Bolts
? Maryland FC
National team
1984–1985 Nigeria U20 ??
1986–1989 Nigeria ??
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 July 2009

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]

References
  1. "Nigeria: Isiguzo, Akanni to Analyse on Daarsat Sports". Vanguard. Nigeria. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2019 – via AllAfrica.
  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.
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