Augustine Eguavoen, the interim coach of the Super Eagles, has explained why Kevin Akpoguma was not invited to the 2022 World Cup playoffs against Ghana this month.
Gernot Rohr gave Akpoguma his debut and he appeared twice in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
However, the 26-year-old did not make the lineup for the main competition in Cameroon.
Despite his great record in the German Bundesliga, he has also been overlooked for the two-legged qualifications against the Black Stars.
“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 cannot 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,” Eguavoen told Elegbete TV.