Germany U20 Skipper Open For S’ Eagles

Germany skipper Kevin
Akpoguma came up against the Flying Eagles of Nigeria in yesterday’s U20 World Cup Round of 16 clash, which he helped the Germans beat Nigeria 1-0 but he has said he has not ruled out the possibility of featuring for Nigeria’s full international team.
Akpoguma’s father is Kelvin and hails from Benin City in Midwest Nigeria.
He and his wife, Annett, are in Christchurch, New Zealand, to cheer their 20-year-old son to glory at the U20 World Cup.
The son said he expected his father, who moved to Germany over 20 years ago, to have waved the flags of both countries during the singing of the national anthems.
But the younger Akpoguma, whose heroes are Jerome Boateng and Yaya Toure, said world champions Germany will be his first choice, but would at the same time not shut the door on the Super Eagles.
“As long as I can play for Germany, I will leave this door open,” he told The Press.
“If I see the level is too high, maybe, I will look for the other goal (with Nigeria).”
Akpoguma has visited Nigeria twice and could still play for the Super Eagles at full international level should he decide to do so.
But the immediate focus of the imposing central defender was yesterday’s U20 World Cup Round of 16 clash against the Flying Eagles at Christchurch.
“It was a special game for me because my dad is from Nigeria,” said Kevin, who has scored at this tournament thus far and will next season go on loan to German second division side Fortuna Dusseldorf from Hoffenheim where he has yet to make his first-team debut.
Cuper’s squad for the match against Tanzania is one which features a blend of youth and experience, though he will surely look to star players such as Mohamed Salah, Mohamed El-Nenny, Ahmed Elmohamady and Ahmed Fathy as the men to build the team around.
Tanzania, who have not been to the Nations Cup finals since 1980, start as complete underdogs, but coach Mart Nooij is a canny operator and will hope to make best use of the fact that the game will be played behind closed doors due to previous violence in Egyptian football.
Egypt and the Taifa Stars have met in nine previous matches, with the North Africans boasting an unbeaten record which includes eight wins and a combined score of 35-10 in their favour.
The other Group G match this weekend will see Nigeria host Chad in Kaduna.