Hoffenheim defender, Kevin Akpoguma, will
reject 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 SL10.ng on
Tuesday afternoon.
''I have talked to Kevin Akpoguma, we still
have work 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. www.sl10.ng/news/articles/categories/nigeria-players-abroad/germany-under-20-star-kevin-akpoguma-turns-his-back-on-nigeria/195222