 Akanni akatambira timu yenyika yeNigeria yepasi pemakore makumi maviri iyo yakahwina menduru yebronze kumakundano ekupedzisira eFIFA World Youth Championship muna 1985 muSoviet Union. Akanga achizotambawo nechikwata chevakuru venhabvu chenyika yeNigeria, achionekwa mu1988 African Cup of Nationsmutambo wokugadzirira neSierra Leone uye mutambo wokugadzirira 1990 FIFA World Cup neCameroon. 