# Bassey Akpan

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**Bassey Abobo Akpan** (listen; born 6 January 1984) is a retired [Nigerian](/source/Nigerians) professional footballer who last played as a goalkeeper for [NPFL](/source/Nigerian_Premier_League) club [Kano Pillars](/source/Kano_Pillars_F.C.).[2]

## Club career

Born in Eket, Nigeria, Akpan began his career with [Delta Force](/source/Delta_Force_F.C.) Academy of Asaba. He was part of the team that placed third at the 1998 [Nike Premier Cup](/source/Manchester_United_Premier_Cup) in Paris, France. He later joined Bright Stars Football Academy In 1999.

During the 1999 [Nike Premier Cup](/source/Manchester_United_Premier_Cup) Africa playoffs in lagos, Akpan put up an impressive performance for the Port-Harcourt-based Academy and was voted the best goalkeeper of the under-15 tournament.[3]

Akpan signed his first professional contract with southern Nigerian club, [Bayelsa United](/source/Bayelsa_United_F.C.) in 2001, where he spent the entire 2001–02 season.

He switched to [Sunshine Stars](/source/Sunshine_Stars_F.C.), where he played for the rest of 2002–03 season, before teaming up with [Kwara United](/source/Kwara_United_F.C.) for the 2003–04 season, following the relegation of the Akure-based club to second tier.[4]

He extended his contract with the *Afonja Warriors* for two seasons, before joining [Bayelsa United](/source/Bayelsa_United_F.C.) for a second spell at the start of the 2006–07 season.

After two seasons with [Bayelsa United](/source/Bayelsa_United_F.C.), Akpan secured a loan move to [Heartland FC](/source/Heartland_F.C.) during the 2008–09 season where he helped the *Naze Millionaires* reach the final of the [2009 CAF Champions League](/source/2009_CAF_Champions_League) for the first time in their history.

At the expiration of his season long loan at Heartland in August 2009, Akpan returned to his parent club [Bayelsa United](/source/Bayelsa_United_F.C.) for the 2009–10 season, before they exited the [2009 CAF Confederation Cup](/source/2009_CAF_Confederation_Cup) at the semi-finals.

He rejoined [Heartland](/source/Heartland_F.C.) ahead of the [2010-11 season](/source/2010-11_Nigeria_Premier_League), after [Bayelsa United](/source/Bayelsa_United_F.C.) relegated at the end of [2009-10 NPFL](/source/2009%E2%80%9310_Nigeria_Premier_League) season.[5] He ended the season winning the 2011 [Nigerian FA Cup](/source/Nigerian_FA_Cup) title.

In October 2011, Akpan signed for [Vietnam first division](/source/V.League_1) club, [Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC](/source/Hoang_Anh_Gia_Lai_FC) for the [2012 V-League](/source/2012_V-League) season.[6]

He ended his debut season with the *Best Goalkeeper Award*, following his outstanding performance in 20 league games, which propelled [Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC](/source/Hoang_Anh_Gia_Lai_FC) to a fifth-place finish on a 14-team table.[7]

Akpan extended his stay with [Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC](/source/Hoang_Anh_Gia_Lai_FC) for two seasons until 17 August 2014.[8]

He returned home to join [Bayelsa United](/source/Bayelsa_United_F.C.) for the [2014-15 NPFL](/source/2015_Nigeria_Professional_Football_League) season, playing three games for the [Yenagoa](/source/Yenagoa)-based club, before moving to [Abia Warriors](/source/Abia_Warriors_F.C.) on loan for the rest of the season.[9][10]

He joined his hometown club, [Akwa United](/source/Akwa_United_F.C.) during the [2015-16 NPFL](/source/2016_Nigeria_Professional_Football_League) season.[11]

Before the commencement of the regular season, Akpan won the 2016 [Super Four](/source/Super_4_(Nigeria)) and the [Nigeria Super Cup](/source/Nigeria_Super_Cup) with the *Promise Keepers*. He was part of the team during their maiden [CAF Confederation Cup](/source/2016_CAF_Confederation_Cup) campaign.

He made 16 league appearances for the Uyo-based club including a vital goalless draw at Abia Warriors in a matchday 30 tie at Umuahia Township Stadium on 7 August 2016. [12]

Akpan signed for [2015-16 NPFL](/source/2016_Nigeria_Professional_Football_League) champions, [Enugu Rangers](/source/Rangers_International_F.C.) during the midseason of the [2016-17 NPFL](/source/2017_Nigeria_Professional_Football_League).[13][14]

Akpan joined [Sunshine Stars FC](/source/Sunshine_Stars_F.C.) for a second spell during the [2018-19](/source/2019_Nigeria_Professional_Football_League) season and was unveiled alongside 23 others at the Ondo State Sports Complex on Saturday 19 January 2019.

He did not feature for the *Akure Gunners* as they ended the [2018-19](/source/2019_Nigeria_Professional_Football_League) abridged league season on the eighth position - one place above relegation zone.[15][16]

## International career

Akpan's exploits at the 1998 and 1999 Nike International Premier Cup in Paris and Barcelona, earned him an invitation to the [Nigeria under-17](/source/Nigeria_national_under-17_football_team) team for the 2001 [Africa U-17 Cup of Nations](/source/Africa_U-17_Cup_of_Nations) qualifiers in 2000.

On 3 March 2001, he inspired the [Golden Eaglets](/source/Nigeria_national_under-17_football_team) to its first continental title at the [2001 African U-17 Championship](/source/2001_African_U-17_Championship) in Seychelles with a 3–0 victory over [Burkina Faso](/source/Burkina_Faso_national_under-17_football_team).

At the [FIFA U-17 World Cup](/source/2001_FIFA_U-17_World_Championship) in Trinidad & Tobago, Akpan was voted Best Goalkeeper of the tournament due to his heroics in goal, despite the Golden Eaglets losing 3–0 to [France](/source/France_national_under-17_football_team) in the finals to settle for a silver medal.[17]

In 2002, he was involved with the [Flying Eagles](/source/Nigeria_national_under-20_football_team) team that failed to qualify for the [Burkina Faso 2003 CAF U-20 Championship](/source/2003_African_Youth_Championship).

From June 2003 to March 2004, Akpan was a member of the [Nigeria U-23 team](/source/Nigeria_national_under-23_football_team) and took part in the [CAF qualifiers](/source/Football_at_the_2004_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_African_Qualifiers) as the team failed to secure a ticket for the [Athens 2004 Summer Olympics Men's football event](/source/Football_at_the_2004_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_tournament)[18]

In 2008, Bassey was in goal for the Home-based Super Eagles during the [Ivory Coast 2009 African Nations Championship WAFU Zone B qualifiers](/source/2009_African_Nations_Championship_qualification), helping coach [Okey Emordi](/source/Okey_Emordi) led team to beat Burkina Faso 4–1 on aggregate in the first round, before losing 3–2 on aggregate to Ghana in the final qualifying round.[19]

He made his senior debut for the [Super Eagles](/source/Nigeria_national_football_team) on 3 March 2010, as an 80th minute substitute for [Shooting Stars](/source/Shooting_Stars_S.C.) goalkeeper, Segun Oluwaniyi in the 5–2 win over [Congo DR](/source/DR_Congo_national_football_team) in Abuja.

Bassey manned the post for the coach [Samson Siasia](/source/Samson_Siasia) tutored Home-based Super Eagles during the second leg goalless draw with Niger in the [Sudan 2011 African Nations Championship WAFU Zone B qualifier](/source/2011_African_Nations_Championship_qualification) on 28 March 2010.

He kept four matches for coach [Daniel Amokachi](/source/Daniel_Amokachi) led [homebased Super Eagles](/source/Nigeria_national_football_team), as they went all the way to beat the [Teranga Lions of Senegal](/source/Senegal_national_football_team) 2–0 to claim the maiden edition of the [2010 WAFU Nations Cup](/source/2010_WAFU_Nations_Cup) at the [MKO Abiola Stadium](/source/MKO_Abiola_Stadium) Abeokuta on Sunday, 18 April 2010.[20]

In May 2010, Akpan alongside [Terna Suswam](/source/Peter_Suswam) was the only home-based players named in Super Eagles' preparatory squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup by Coach Lars Lagerback, but did not make the final squad.

He was a used substitute during the Super Eagles' 0–0 draw with Saudi Arabia in a pre-World Cup friendly in Austria on 25 May 2010.[21]

He also served as back up to goalkeeper [Dele Aiyenugba](/source/Dele_Aiyenugba) in the Super Eagles 2–1 loss to [South Korea](/source/South_Korea_national_football_team) in an international friendly at the [Suwon World Cup Stadium](/source/Suwon_World_Cup_Stadium), on 11 August 2010.

## Honours

### International

**Nigeria U-17**

- [FIFA U-17 World Cup](/source/FIFA_U-17_World_Cup) winner: [2001](/source/2001_FIFA_U-17_World_Championship)
- [CAF U-17 Championship](/source/Africa_U-17_Cup_of_Nations) winner: [2001](/source/2001_African_U-17_Championship)

**Nigeria**

- [WAFU Nations Cup](/source/WAFU_Nations_Cup) winner: [2010](/source/2010_WAFU_Nations_Cup)

### Club

#### National

**Bayelsa United**

- [Nigerian Professional Football League](/source/Nigerian_Professional_Football_League) winner: [2008-09](/source/Nigerian_Professional_Football_League)[22]

**Heartland FC**

- [Nigerian FA Cup](/source/Nigerian_FA_Cup) winner: [2011](/source/Nigerian_FA_Cup)[23]

**Akwa United**

- [Nigeria Super Cup](/source/Nigeria_Super_Cup) winner: [2016](/source/Nigerian_Super_Cup)
- [Nigeria Super Four](/source/Super_4_(Nigeria)) winner: [2016](/source/Super_4_(Nigeria))

#### International

**Heartland FC**

- [CAF Champions League](/source/CAF_Champions_League) runners up: [2009](/source/2009_CAF_Champions_League)

### Individual

- [2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship](/source/2001_FIFA_U-17_World_Championship) Golden Glove winner
- [2010 WAFU Nations Cup](/source/2010_WAFU_Nations_Cup) Golden Glove winner
- [2012 V-League](/source/2012_V-League) Best Goalkeeper

## References

1. ["Nigeria - F. Bassey - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway"](https://ng.soccerway.com/players/fortune-akpan-bassey/567648/)

1. ["Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Bassey Akpan joins Kano Pillars"](https://www.brila.net/former-super-eagles-goalkeeper-bassey-akpan-joins-kano-pillars/). brila.net. Retrieved 21 December 2021.

1. ["Nike Premier Cup"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170428073324/http://www.footjuniors.com/NPC/). Archived from [the original](http://www.footjuniors.com/NPC/) on 28 April 2017.

1. ["Nigeria 2003"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nig03.html)

1. ["Keeper Akpan set to join Heartland | SuperSport – Africa's source of sports video, fixtures, results and news"](https://www.supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/101016/keeper_akpan_set_to_join_heartland)

1. ["Reference at m.english.vietnamnet.vn"](https://m.english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/sports/13918/top-african-goalkeeper-joins-vietnamese-fc.html#ui=mobile)

1. ["Former Heartland goalkeeper makes Vietnam League team of the season | Goal.com"](https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4093/nigerian-football/2012/10/10/3438582/former-heartland-goalkeeper-bassey-akpan-makes-vietnam)

1. ["Nigeria - B. Akpan - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway"](https://us.soccerway.com/players/bassey-akpan/120774/)

1. ["Bassey Akpan joins Abia Warriors | SuperSport – Africa's source of sports video, fixtures, results and news"](https://www.supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/150605/Bassey_Akpan_joins_Abia_Warriors)

1. ["Nigerian overseas-based stars 'relaunch' careers with NPFL - Punch Newspapers"](https://punchng.com/nigerian-overseas-based-stars-relaunch-careers-with-npfl/amp/). *[The Punch](/source/The_Punch)*. 6 January 2019.

1. ["Reference at thenationonlineng.net"](https://thenationonlineng.net/akwa-united-hook-bassey-akpan-kufre-ebong-others/amp/). *[The Nation](/source/The_Nation_(Nigeria))*. 7 January 2016.

1. ["Abia Warriors, Akwa Utd share points News - Daily Sports Nigeria"](https://www.dailysportsng.com/news/detail.php?news=3231)

1. ["Ampadu Leaves Chelsea On Loan - Complete Sports"](https://www.completesports.com/enugu-rangers-sign-ex-nigeria-u-17-star-ezeh-four-others/amp/). *[Complete Sports](/source/Complete_Sports)*. 22 July 2019.

1. ["Amputee Federation president reveal plans for 2020 - Latest Sports News In Nigeria"](https://www.brila.net/completed-midseason-signings-for-npfl-teams/amp/). 11 February 2020.

1. ["Reference at www.naijafootballplus.com"](http://www.naijafootballplus.com/sunshine-stars-unveil-new-players/)

1. ["Premium Times - Nigeria leading newspaper for news, investigations"](https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/football/306683-npfl-former-nasarawa-united-captain-others-join-sunshine-stars.html%3famp_markup=1). *[Premium Times](/source/Premium_Times)*

1. ["Reference at www.dailytrust.com.ng"](https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/akpan-flying-on-the-wings-of-perseverance.html). *[Daily Trust](/source/Daily_Trust)*

1. ["Reference at allafrica.com"](https://allafrica.com/stories/200311180526.html)

1. ["Reference at www.nigeria"](https://www.nigeria/weekly-trust/20131221/281960310575387)

1. ["Nigeria win WAFU Cup"](https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/news/nigeria-win-wafu-cup/524236). 18 April 2010.

1. ["Reference at www.11v11.com"](https://www.11v11.com/matches/nigeria-v-saudi-arabia-25-may-2010-289990/)

1. ["Nigeria 2008/09"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nig09.html)

1. ["Profile of Heartland's historic squad"](https://www.supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/110927/profile_of_heartlands_historic_squad)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bassey Akpan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassey_Akpan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassey_Akpan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.