Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma is arguably one of the best Nigerian defender at the moment owing to the fact that he has been a regular for his German side who are chasing a UEFA Champions League spot.
However his name was conspicuously missing from the list of players called up for the senior national team of Nigeria ahead of their World Cup qualifiers playoff against Ghana.
Akpoguma has been a part of the Super Eagles and has four caps to his name, the last of which came in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone. He wasn’t selected for the Africa Cup of Nations by Austine Eguavoen who was named as interim coach following the sacking of Rohr who gave the 26 year old his Nigerian debut.
Explaining why he wasn’t in the list for the AFCON and subsequently the sqaud for the game against Ghana, Eguavoen said that the ex Germany youth international was called up as a replacement for the injured Leon Balogun for the AFCON but turned it down.
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”Akpoguma was out of the list that went to the African cup of Nations but shortly after the list was released, we still had the opportunity to bring in one or two and then Leon Balogun was hurt and then we summon Akpoguma to come he didn’t. His club now said no”, he told Elegbete TV.
Speaking further he explained that the fact that Akpoguma isn’t in his sqaud doesn’t mean he isn’t a part of his squad anymore as he can still be called up for future games.
“So you see I want people to know that if you are out of a team that does mean you cannot be recalled that’s the end. I have not watched Akpoguma but I have seen him close a little bit in Lagos and in Benin we went to against Sierra Leone together. Very good player no doubt.
”But I must say I have watched Ekong, Balogun, I have watched Omeruo, I have watched Ajayi and made me say he isn’t ahead of them. Now that Balogun isn’t available, I sent for him, he didn’t come and his club replied that he won’t be coming. That was why I went for Olisa Ndah. A very good young player who isn’t in the list at the moment but he is still in our plans”, he concluded.
