Hoffenheim defender, Kevin Akpoguma has rejected an invitation to play for Nigeria’s youth teams as he is an integral member of Germany’s Under 20 squad.
Akpoguma, whose mother is German, has been given a chance to display his wares to coach Samson Siasia at the Under 23 national team screening exercise.
The Nigeria Football Federation are doing the groundwork to convince the defender to turn out for Nigeria instead of Germany, and Germany – based Darlington Omodiagbe, a member of the Technical Study Group, has been pressurizing the player.
The retired Nigeria Under 23 international, now a youth team coach at SV Wacker Burghausen, did not bring good news in that regard when he contacted on Tuesday afternoon.
“I have talked to Kevin Akpoguma, we still have worked to do to convince him to play for Nigeria,’’ Darlington Omodiagbe said to SL10.ng.
“It is not going to be easy; he plays for Germany’s Under 20 team. I’ll suggest that we offer him something bigger.
“Everything is possible but it won’t be easy. His father is from Delta State but grew up in Benin City.’’
Though Omodiagbe refused to go straight to the point, it is believed that Kevin Akpoguma will only consider an invitation to play for Nigeria’s main squad, the Super Eagles.
The ex Karlsruher SC and FC Bavaria Wörth youth-teamer has clocked up over 40 appearances for Germany’s youth teams since his debut in 2011.
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