Has Kevin Akpoguma’s international career ended with another Super Eagles snub?
There has only been speculations around the sudden hiatus of the Bundesliga based defender, who has four caps to his name since switching his international allegiance from Germany to Nigeria.
A highly rated youth player for the Die Mannschaft, Akpoguma captained the national cadre sides, famously accounting for Nigeria’s ouster from the 2015 U21 World Cup in New Zealand.
He was not favored to transition into the senior team, but he also did not seek alternatives immediately.
It wasn’t until 2018 he publicly declared his decision to play for Nigeria after initial reservations about suiting up for the former African Champions.
Kevin Akpoguma has a Nigerian Father and his eligibility to represent the West African Country excited many among other things but more precisely because he is one of the best in his positions in the Germany Bundesliga.
This season, as a RB and CB the 26 year-old ranks in the top 100 players (87) and 44th of 62 players as RBs in the Bundesliga.
In his 14 appearances this term in the league he has scored two goals and two assists, but the player has his obvious weaknesses.
These were apparent in the shocking 4-4 draw against Sierra Leone back in 2021 in an AFCON qualifying match in Benin City, he isn’t a great asset when the team requires support Wing men.
However, after first being overlooked by Austin Eguavoen for a spot in the squad to the AFCON, the player has yet again been snubbed for the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Ghana this month.
Eguavoen favored Ola Aina and Shehu Abdullahi, one hasn’t played a minute of competitive football since January 23rd and the other just ended the season in Cyprus.
Meanwhile, there are more recent reports suggesting Akpoguma will put his international career on hold, even respected football stats website whoscored have him as a German.
But is this indeed the end of the road in the international career of the 26 year-old?
Eguavoen who has been confirmed as head Coach of the team beyond teh World Cup isn’t a big fan of the player and could return to his role as Technical Director afterwards which could either mean the player will further be in international wilderness.
Rather fortunately there’s been no official statements debunking rumors he would take a break from or credible sources confirming that he rejected a call as after only getting considered as Leon Balogun’s replacement for the 2021 AFCON.
If there’s a real possibility Kevin Akpoguma will no longer wear the colors of Nigeria it would have been a huge waste of opportunity, a beautiful dream snuffed out.
