The world’s football governing body, the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has given the nod to German-born Kevin Akpoguma to play for Nigeria’s senior national football team, the Super Eagles.
President of the Nigerian football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, confirmed FiFA’s approval for Akpoguma to switch his allegiance to Nigeria. The defender was born to a German mother and a Nigerian father and has represented Germany in soccer competitions at various youth levels. However, Akpoguma is yet to play for Germany’s country’s senior team, which makes him eligible to feature for the Super Eagles.
The centre-back has been delivering consistent performances for Bundesliga side Hoffenheim since joining the club in 2015. He made 18 leagues appearances for the side fondly referred to by its fans as the Kraichgauer last season to help his side finish sixth in the campaign.
Pinnick’s announcement that the ace defender has been cleared to play for the Niegrian national men’s soccer team comes ahead of the West African side’s friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia on October 9 and 13, respectively.
According to Pinnick in a tweet verified to his official Twitter handle, “I’m extremely happy to announce that FIFA has just granted Hoffenheim defender and former German U20 national team skipper Kevin Ufuoma Akpoguma permission to make his switch to Nigeria with immediate effect.”
Akpoguma has already linked up in Austria with the Super Eagles team coached by Gernot Rohr. The team is in the European country as it finalizes training for its upcoming friendlies against Algeria’s Desert Foxes and the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia.
