27 year old Hoffenheim Nigeria international defender Kevin Akpoguma will end his exile from international football if new coach of the Nigerian team Jose Peseiro assure him that he will be a regular in the team, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively report.
Akpoguma played for Germany at several youth levels before deciding to switch allegiance to Nigeria two years ago and he has three caps to his name. He however hasn’t played since the 0-0 draw away to Sierra Leone during the qualifiers for the last Africa Cup of Nations.
He was on the bench for four straight games in the World Cup qualifiers as Nigeria booked a place in the play off. Then in came the subsequent sacking of Gernot Rohr who convinced him to play for Nigeria. His sacking just before the AFCON cast doubts over the future of Akpoguma.
Listed in the preliminary list submitted by Rohr before his sacking, he was however not in the final list of players picked by interim coach Austine Eguavoen. He was later called up as a replacement for the injured Leon Balogun, but he declined and gave conditions to honour the call up.
We exclusively gathered that he told Eguavoen that he won’t be comfortable risking his position as a starter for the his club if he comes to the tournament and didn’t get to play games. Hence need assurance that he will be a regular.
Eguavoen didn’t accept his condition insisting that he must fight for a spot like every other player. Semi Ajayi was called up in his spot and according to a representative of his management Unique Sports Group the situation is still same.
” I see Nigeria have a new coach Jose Peseiro. Akpoguma hasn’t quit international football but just like it was with Eguavoen he want assurance on regular game time. He didn’t get much under Rohr. It’s risky for a regular to travel for games and sit on the bench almost everytime”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
“If Peseiro wants him. He has to speak with him and agree on certain stuff. The experience with Nigeria was lovely and it hasn’t ended yet just a break, if you ask me*,he remarked.
