Kevin Akpoguma

Kevin John Ufuoma Akpoguma (born 19 April 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for 1899 Hoffenheim.[1] Born in Germany, Akpoguma was a youth international for Germany but switched and represents the Nigeria national team.[2]

Kevin Akpoguma
Akpoguma in 2016
Personal information
Full name Kevin John Ufuoma Akpoguma
Date of birth (1995-04-19) 19 April 1995
Place of birth Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 1899 Hoffenheim
Number 25
Youth career
Rot-Weiß Speyer
Schwarz-Weiß Speyer
FC Bavaria Wörth
0000–2007 FC Neureut 08
2007–2012 Karlsruher SC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Karlsruher SC 8 (1)
2013–2015 1899 Hoffenheim II 55 (3)
2015– 1899 Hoffenheim 30 (0)
2015–2017 → Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan) 45 (0)
2019 → Hannover 96 (loan) 4 (0)
National team
2010–2011 Germany U16 5 (0)
2011–2012 Germany U17 15 (0)
2012–2013 Germany U18 5 (3)
2013–2014 Germany U19 18 (0)
2014–2016 Germany U20 14 (1)
2015–2017 Germany U21 7 (0)
2020– Nigeria 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 May 2019

Club career

Akpoguma spent the 2016–17 season on loan at 2. Bundesliga side Fortuna Düsseldorf. On 21 April 2017, towards the end of the season, he collided with FC St. Pauli's Bernd Nehrig in a league match. Both players were hospitalised with Akpoguma suffering a broken neck.[3]

Akpoguma made his first appearance in the Bundesliga the following season on 22 October 2017, replacing Stefan Posch at half-time in 1899 Hoffenheim's 1–1 draw with VfL Wolfsburg.[4] Four days later, he made his first start for the club, in a 1–0 away to Werder Bremen in the second round of the DFB-Pokal.[5]

International career

Born to a German mother and a Nigerian father, Kevin Akpoguma is eligible to play for Germany and Nigeria. He has represented Germany at youth level, playing for the U16, U17, U18, U19, U20, and U21 teams.

He was the captain of the German U-20 National, helping the team reach the quarterfinals of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.[6][7]

In October 2018 he stated that he was open to playing to Nigeria.[8]

On 21 September 2020, Nigeria national team coach Gernot Rohr stated that Akpoguma has switched allegiance to play for the Nigeria national team.[9][10]

On 28 September he confirmed reports that he has decided to play for the Nigeria national team.[11] Akpoguma made his debut with the Nigeria national team in a friendly 1–0 loss over Algeria on 9 October 2020.[12]

References
  1. "Akpoguma, Kevin" (in German). kicker.de. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  2. "FIFA approves Akpoguma Nigeria switch". punchng.com. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  3. Rees, James (21 April 2017). "Fortuna Düsseldorf 1-3 FC St. Pauli: Injuries overshadow dramatic comeback". VAVEL. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  4. "Wolfsburg snatch late draw at home to Hoffenheim". Bundesliga. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  5. "Demirbay: "Ich bin sehr wütend"". kicker Online (in German). 26 October 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  6. Adewuyi, Lolade (23 May 2015). "Meet Nigerian-German Kevin Akpoguma, captain of the Germany U20 side". Goal.com. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  7. "FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 30 May 2015. p. 6. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  8. "Kevin Akpoguma: German youth star open to Nigeria call-up". 3 November 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  9. "Akpoguma: Rohr reveals ex-German youth star's switch to Nigeria". 21 September 2020 – via www.goal.com.
  10. "Kevin Akpoguma: Ex-German youth star sold on Nigeria 'vision'". 21 September 2020 – via www.goal.com.
  11. "AKPOGUMA COMMITS HIS INTERNATIONAL FUTURE TO NIGERIA". 28 September 2020 – via www.tsg-hoffenheim.de/en.
  12. "Nigeria vs. Algeria - 9 October 2020 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.


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