Chippa United goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has stressed that he was aware of the rules when he handled the ball with his hands outside the area during the first half of the international friendly between Nigeria and Argentina.

And he has blamed the assistant referee for the mix-up, stating that the official had raised the flag for an offside before he handled the ball.

Although Argentina had a legitimate complain as the referee did not blow the whistle, television images showed Porto loanee Chidozie Awaziem backing Akpeyi, informing referee Bezborodov that the linesman's flag was up.

''When Akpeyi saw the linesman with the flag, his mind did not go to the referee did not blow the whistle,'' a source close to Daniel Akpeyi told allnigeriasoccer.com.

''He just dropped the ball to play the offside. It really broke his heart that they scored from the free-kick, and people will forget about the saves he made during the game.

''He is just coming from a good run of games for his club, and will keep working on the tactical aspects of the game''.

Often seen wearing glasses, Akpeyi has revealed that he wears them for fashion, adding that he's not short or long sighted.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel