'I Am Very Excited To Be Here' - Hoffenheim's Akpoguma Ahead Of Potential Nigeria Debut

Hoffenheim center back Kevin Akpoguma has expressed happiness at linking up with the Nigeria national team at their training camp in Austria.

Everything is pointing to the fact that Akpoguma, one of the nine foreign-born players currently with the Super Eagles, is in contention to make his senior debut after his one-time request for a change of association was recently granted by football's world governing body FIFA.

Speaking to the Super Eagles Media Officer Toyin Ibitoye, Akpoguma said : "My name is Kevin Akpoguma from TSG Hoffenheim, I am 25 years old and I am very happy to be here with the Nigerian team.

"It's a great experience at the moment here to be with the guys, everyone is very happy and nice.

"We are looking forward to the two friendly games we have now in this window, Algeria and Tunisia, and then we are preparing for the qualification in November, so I am very excited to be here."

Nigeria fans were delighted that the Nigerian Federation and manager Gernot Rohr finally convinced Akpoguma to pledge his international future to the three-time African champions, six years after he was officially approached.

On his message to Super Eagles fans back home, the former Germany U20 skipper said : "I am very excited to see the country again, when I was sixteen I was there and it's now a long time so I am very happy to visit the country..."

Akpoguma made a total of 62 appearances for Germany's youth teams before applying for a change of association.