Chippa United of South Africa goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi is expected to be back in goal for the Eastern Cape club when they host Kaizer Chiefs in their Absa Premiership clash at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.
Akpeyi injured his neck in the club’s league match against Mamelodi Sundowns on November 25 and was forced to go off, then later taken to hospital, but will now return to action for the club in midweek.
However, Brighton Mhlongo, who went on to replace Akpeyi in the game that saw the Super Eagles shot-stopper cop a knock, also remains on standby to face Chiefs.
Akpeyi, who has started nine of the 12 Absa Premiership games for Chippa this season, will also hope to make the cut in midweek, as The Chilli Boys want to return to winning ways after seeing their past two league matches ending in draws.
Chippa’s coach, Teboho Moloi led his men to two draws against Free State Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns in the Absa Premiership.
However, he suffered a 1-0 loss at the hands of Steve Komphela’s men in the Telkom Knockout quarterfinals at home.
On the log table, they currently occupy the seventh spot with 16 points from 12 matches and will want to win and move into the upper reaches.
Looking at the visitors, Chiefs are blowing hot and cold so far and a win in the Eastern Cape will ease their momentum concerns.
Although meeting Chippa for the second time in all competitions will bring challenges, Komphela will motivate his men to claim the full three points.
Prior to this meeting, Chiefs have drawn four games and their most recent is against AmaZulu and Free Free State Stars in the league, but they also suffered a 1-0 loss in the TKO to champions Bidvest Wits in the semifinals.
Looking at the log table, the Naturena-based outfit occupies the sixth spot with 16 points from 12 matches in their campaign so far and a win will elevate them to the second spot.
Previous Starting XI: Chippa United: Akpeyi, Macheke, Okwuosa, Konqobe, Maphanga, Mvelase, Mabaso, Mdlinzo, Mako, Lentjies, Sekola; Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Cardoso, Hadebe, Ngezana, Zulu, Katsande, Maluleka, Molangoane, Parker, Tshabalala, Paez