Hoffenheim defender Akpoguma says he will only play for Nigeria if he does not get Germany call-up

Kevin Akpoguma has given the conditions necessary for him to dump Germany for Nigeria.

Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma has stated that he will only play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria if he does not get a call-up from Germany soon.

The 22-year-old had previously been linked with the Super Eagles before the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Akpoguma who was born to a German mother and Nigerian father is eligible to play for the Super Eagles.

 

Born in Germany, Akpoguma has represented his country of birth across various youth levels and even captained the German U-20 team that beat Nigeria’s U-20 team Flying Eagles in the quarterfinal stage of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

In an interview with veteran sports journalist Oma Akatugba, Akpoguma disclosed that he could still feature for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the future and revealed the conditions possible for that to happen.

 

Now 22-years-old and yet to make an appearance for a senior team on the international stage, it seems Akpoguma is considering switching his international allegiance.

He said, ''The thing is that I was born in Germany and I have played for all the youth teams of Germany and I am still a young player.''

 

Akpoguma then hinted in the interview that even though his father is from Nigeria he is open to playing for the Super Eagles only if he is not able to play for Germany in the nearest future.

''So, I want to leave it open because Germany can still call me. But if I have no other option to play for Germany, then It will be an honour to play for Nigeria because my dad is from Nigeria.''

 

There have been several reports that that Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr had a discussion with Akpoguma to switch his allegiance just before the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Akpoguma who is coached by highly rated Julian Nagelsmann of Hoffenheim has been ignored by German coach Joachim Lowe who prefers highly experienced defenders Jerome Boateng and Matt Hummels and other top defenders such as Sebastian Rudy and Antonio Rüdiger.