Akpoguma is one of the regulars for Hoffenheim, but he has not been able to cement a shirt in the Super Eagles
Super Eagles interim boss Augustine Eguavoen has revealed that he did not call up Hoffenheim star Kevin Akpoguma for the World Cup qualifier against Ghana because he is not better than Kenneth Omeruo, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun.
The 26-year-old is one of the most established Super Eagles defenders in Europe. He has been decent for Hoffenheim this season, scoring two goals and supplying three assists in 20 appearances.
However, despite his performances in his club, the Fortuna Dusseldorf man has repeatedly been snubbed- Akpoguma was omitted from the Super Eagles for the Nations Cup in Cameroon.
Also, the Nigerian fullback did not make the cut for the squad that would do battle against Ghana in the crucial doubleheader.
Eguavoen believes Akpoguma is a good player, but the Hoffenheim star is not as good as the others jostling for that position.
“I’m a very reserved person, because our people, not just Nigeria alone, the entire world. People twist words. Yes, Akpoguma was out of the list that went to the Africa Cup of Nations,” Eguavoen told Elegbete TV.
“But slightly after the list was released, we still had opportunities to bring in one or two, and then Balogun was hurt- he couldn’t go because of his injury, and then we sent for Akpoguma to come. He didn’t, his club said no.
“I want people to know that if you miss a call-up, that does not mean that you can not be recalled. I think I’ve not worked with Akpoguma, but I have seen him closely. He is a very good player, no doubt, but for me, he couldn’t replace Balogun, Troost-Ekong, or Omeruo,” he added.
Nigeria face Ghana on the 25th of March before returning home four days later to play the Black Stars.
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It’s been a while I have commented on this forum. But I have to say this: Eguavoen with his cohort cannot take us to the dreamland. I have my reasons. More than ever, Eguavoen has shown his biases towards certain players. Now, he says Akpoguma is out because he was not with them at the AFCON and that he doesn’t think he is better than Balogun, Ekong, and Omuero. Olisa Ndah was part of AFCON squad. What this means is that he saw Ndah as better option to Akpoguma even when the former was not on the pre-liminary list submitted. Another dumb excuse usually given by Eguavoen on why certain players were omitted is that he hasn’t watched them play LIVE. He hasn’t watched Dessers played LIVE. I’m really curious because must a coach watch all players LIVE before they can get potential call-ups? Why do we have scouts then? This is the same man that tampered with the list to smuggle in Kelechi Nwakali because in his words, “I like the kid.” Would Eguavoen tell me he watched Amoo LIVE before he handed him a call-up? Did this same man watch Onazi play LIVE in the Saudi Arabian Second Division League before he placed him on a standby to “pacify everybody”? Etebo that’s battling with match fitness can be called up because the coach has not seen Innocent Bonke played LIVE. Wasn’t Eguavoen the Technical Director when Bonke played in the win against Cape Verde? Did he, as the TE, not watch the game? All these dumb excuses of him that undermine meritocracy. All these players are part of team and have trained together with them: Akpogma, Dessers, Bonke and the rest of them and as long as they are doing well Ibn their clubs, they deserved to be called up. Eguavoen cannot keep his biases because if we were to go by his I-haven’t-watched-them-play or I-have-not-worked-closely-with-them then some players would not be there. A coach that shows his biases cannot take this team to greatness. A coach that failed at the AFCON for that matter. Eguavoen HAS nothing to offer even with Amunike that serves as the assistant. But they all should know that their shenanigans MUST soar us past Ghana, or else….
@ King S., Permit me to say, and very quickly too, that as much as you don't buy the coaches reason for not inviting some players, every coach, expectedly has his football philosophy. And so, a player can be playing well but may not fit into the prevalent football ideology of the Coach. I think this is what is playing out at the moment.
All we can do as fans, is to watch and see the wisdom of his decision. On the issue of Eguavoen not being capable of taking the team to the world cup, we have to be careful to not fall victim to inferiority complex. As far as I know, the a world cup coach is the one who wins the world cup, otherwise, we may find ourselves engaging in unfruitful arguments. Nigeria did very well at the last Nations Cup. Results don't always tell the whole story.
I can't tell you what the result will be in Ghana, but Ghana as presently made up can't beat Nigeria, home or away.
Eguavoen is only there in name. Pinnick is in the one making all vital discissions as to who to invite into the National Team. Look at the way Etebo, who is presently recovering from severe injuries, and yet, is being brought in and Onezi who playing in a second division in Saudi Arabia and even warming the bench in such a team, is all a testament of Eguaveon not in control of what he is doing. He is just a tool and a yes boy.
Eguavoen is comparing Kenneth Omeruo with Kevin Akpoguma what has he been smoking? Kevin is playing in one of the biggest league in the world week in, week out. Kenneth Omeruo hardly feature for Leganese since he returned back to Spain after the Nations Cup. I doubt if Nigeria will qualify for the world cup bcos we need our active players to execute these 2 games against Ghana. Nigerians will never forgive Eguavoen if we fail to qualify for Qatar 2022.
He will regret taking the job from NFF!
It's true sha...his reason didn't add up
@ King S., Permit me to say, and very quickly too, that as much as you don't buy the coaches reason for not inviting some players, every coach, expectedly has his football philosophy. And so, a player can be playing well but may not fit into the prevalent football ideology of the Coach. I think this is what is playing out at the moment.
All we can do as fans, is to watch and see the wisdom of his decision. On the issue of Eguavoen not being capable of taking the team to the world cup, we have to be careful to not fall victim to inferiority complex. As far as I know, the world cup coach is the one who wins the world cup, otherwise, we may find ourselves engaging in unfruitful arguments. Nigeria did very well at the last Nations Cup. Results don't always tell the whole story.
I can't tell you what the result will be in Ghana, but Ghana as presently made up can't beat Nigeria, home or away.