The Super Eagles defender is enduring a nightmarish campaign in Germany and has to overcome another setback
Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma’s difficult season took another turn for the worse after he was handed a one-match suspension following his dismissal in the heavy Bundesliga defeat to Bayern Munich, Soccernet.ng reports.
The German Football Association (DFB) sports court confirmed that Akpoguma will sit out Hoffenheim’s next league fixture after being shown a straight red card during Sunday’s 5–1 loss at the Allianz Arena.
The ruling, described as punishment for “unsportsmanlike conduct”, has been accepted by the club and will not be appealed.
Referee Tobias Stieler sent the 30-year-old off in just the 17th minute after judging that he had denied Bayern winger Luis Díaz a clear goal-scoring opportunity inside the penalty area. Díaz went to ground under pressure from Akpoguma, with the official ruling that the Hoffenheim defender was the last man and had committed a professional foul.
While some observers felt the challenge was harshly punished, the DFB maintained the decision, making it the first red card of Akpoguma’s Bundesliga career across 176 top-flight appearances.
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Akpoguma: Frustrating spell for the Super Eagles star
The suspension adds to what has been a largely forgettable campaign for a player who has been a mainstay at Hoffenheim for over a decade.
Since arriving from Karlsruher SC in 2013, Akpoguma has typically been a regular starter, aside from loan spells at Fortuna Düsseldorf and Hannover 96. Over the previous two seasons alone, he featured 49 times in the Bundesliga.
This term, however, opportunities have been scarce. The Nigerian international has managed just five league appearances, finding himself increasingly on the fringes of the team.
His struggles have extended to the international stage as well. Born in Germany and capped at several youth levels, Akpoguma committed his future to Nigeria in 2020 and has earned eight senior caps for the Super Eagles.
His last outing came in 2023 during a 3–2 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over Sierra Leone. He was later left out of Nigeria’s squad for the AFCON tournament in Côte d’Ivoire, where the Super Eagles finished runners-up. He also missed selection for the 2025 edition, where Nigeria claimed bronze.
