Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has thrown his weight behind Kaizer Chiefs’ decision to part ways with co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, saying the Naturena management knows what is best for the club as they search for a new head coach ahead of next season.
Daniel Akpeyi may be done with professional football, but his connection to Kaizer Chiefs remains strong. The 39 year old former Super Eagles goalkeeper was at Naturena Village this week for the launch of the 2026 Toyota Cup and did not hold back when asked about the club’s decision to end its arrangement with co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef after just one season in charge.
“Sometimes it depends on the decision the management wants to make to see how they can solidify other areas of the team. So this can boil down to decision-making,” Akpeyi told reporters at the launch. “I would like to believe that the management knows what they are doing, and they only look forward to the best for the team. I’m very sure they will be able to get a coach who will take the team further.”
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A Turbulent Season at Naturena
The coaching situation at Kaizer Chiefs has been anything but straightforward. The club dismissed head coach Nasreddine Nabi just four matches into the 2025/26 campaign, promoting his assistants Kaze and Ben Youssef to take temporary charge for the remainder of the season. Despite the disruption, the pair guided Amakhosi to a third place finish in the Betway Premiership and qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup their highest league position since the 2019/20 campaign when they narrowly missed the title.
The decision to let both coaches go despite that improvement caught many in the South African football fraternity off guard. Kaizer Chiefs finished 15 points behind champions Orlando Pirates, and the club’s hierarchy appears to believe a fresh start is needed to close that gap. Reports suggest Kaze could be heading to Sekhukhune United as head coach, meaning both men may remain prominent figures in the PSL next season.
Akpeyi himself offered some useful context in a separate interview, noting that Nabi’s early departure set the tone for an inconsistent first half of the campaign. Amakhosi suffered three consecutive defeats against Stellenbosch FC, Orlando Pirates, and Richards Bay before eventually finding their feet. The team’s recovery in the second half of the season is what earned them the continental ticket, but it was not enough to save the coaches’ jobs.
Akpeyi Hangs Up His Gloves
The Toyota Cup launch served a dual purpose for Akpeyi. Beyond the coaching discussion, the former Nigeria international confirmed he has officially retired from professional football. His last club was Marumo Gallants, and after his contract expired last year, he had been without a club. He made it formal in front of the cameras at Naturena, where he was unveiled as part of the Kaizer Chiefs Legends squad for a curtain raiser exhibition match against Jozi Masters on July 26, 2026 at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg. New fans who want to back the Chiefs legends event or any upcoming PSL action can get a head start with the YOHAIG welcome offer on Bet9ja.
“I have retired from active football. I have started doing my courses as a coach I’m only waiting for the opportunity to start working,” Akpeyi said at the launch. He has also been seen working alongside Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali during training sessions earlier in 2026, a sign that his transition into coaching is already underway in practical terms.
The goalkeeping coach route appears to be the direction he is pointing in, though he has not confirmed a specific role yet. His decade of experience in the South African top flight, more than 220 club appearances, and familiarity with the Super Eagles setup make him a credible candidate for that kind of position whenever the right opportunity arrives. PSL followers who fancy placing bets on next season’s title race can take advantage of the Bet9ja sign-up offer to get started before the new campaign kicks off.
A Legacy Worth Celebrating
Akpeyi spent close to a decade in South African football, representing Chippa United, Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows, and Marumo Gallants across his time in the country. He made 19 appearances for Nigeria, was part of the squad that claimed bronze at AFCON 2019 in Egypt, and established himself as one of the more dependable Nigerian goalkeepers of his generation. Chippa United was where it all began in South Africa, and it was there that a young Stanley Nwabali would later follow in his footsteps.
Kaizer Chiefs, for their part, must now move quickly to appoint a permanent head coach before the new Betway Premiership season begins in August. The club’s return to CAF competition adds urgency to the search, as any new manager will need time to bed in a squad being rebuilt after two seasons of transition under Nabi and then his former assistants.
📌 Did You Know?
- Daniel Akpeyi made over 220 club appearances in South Africa’s PSL across his career, recording 77 clean sheets a record that stands as a benchmark for Nigerian goalkeepers in the South African top flight.
- Kaizer Chiefs are widely regarded as the most supported football club in South Africa and across southern Africa, with an estimated fanbase of over 16 million supporters.
- Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef took charge of Kaizer Chiefs in September 2025 following the dismissal of Nasreddine Nabi, who was axed just four games into the season.
- Kaizer Chiefs’ third place finish under Kaze and Ben Youssef was the club’s best league result since the 2019/20 season, when they narrowly missed out on the PSL title on the final day.
- Akpeyi was part of the Nigeria squad that finished third at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt the last time the Super Eagles won a medal at the continental championship.
- Stanley Nwabali, who has taken over as Nigeria’s first choice goalkeeper, followed in Akpeyi’s footsteps at Chippa United before earning his Super Eagles call up a connection Akpeyi has spoken about with pride.
- The Kaizer Chiefs Legends vs Jozi Masters curtain-raiser on July 26, 2026, at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg is expected to be Akpeyi’s final public appearance in competitive football kit.
