Nigerian duo, Kevin Akpoguma and Taiwo Awoniyi were on target as Hoffenheim were held to a 2-2 draw by Union Berlin in their Bundesliga clash at the PreZero Arena on Sunday, reports Completesports.com.
Niko Giesselmann put Union Berlin ahead from a header in the 10th minute.
The lead lasted only four minutes with Akpoguma nodding home Angelo Stiller’s cross.
The hosts took the lead for the first time in the game on the hour mark courtesy of Jacob Larsen’s fine strike.
Awoniyi restored parity for Union Berlin in the 47th minute after he was set up by Max Kruse.
His initial strike was saved by Oliver Baumann but the goalkeeper could not stop the rebound for the Nigeria international’s fourth goal in three games.
He was replaced by Andreas Voglsamm in the 69th minute.
Akpoguma featured for 90 minutes in the game.
7 Comments
Congratulations to you guys!
You guys deserve Super eagles next call up but it is unfortunate that one out of two of you will be called…
Awoniyi should also be called….he is not new to the national team as he came through the ranks from u13 to u23…..he has re-presented Nigeria at u17 and u20 world cup so he is used to most of the heat involved in National team football.
If selection of players to national teams is based on current form in top league and suitability in team’s formation, both names will be among the top of invited players.
Osimhen, Awonoyi and Sadiq are suitable strikers for numerous formation.
Akpoguma is the most suitable choice to pair Balogun in CD.
If its not an Igbo player people here will not pay attention or will start hating, half the team is Igbo. Awoniyi left Liverpool to be the main man. After he came back from injury of torn muscle in his leg he scored 5 in the last 7 games, he is really good during 1v1 plays. He is now a starter in the German league, Germany knows how to recruit players especially having an interest in African players. He would never made it to the starting team in Liverpool, not even the bench since the team is stacked, he made a smart move.
German league is 4th in uefa ranking, better than going to a relegated team in premier league when he brought union berlin to 7th place in bundesliga for europa conference league where he scored 2 goals, he is working hard, Liverpool signed him for a reason. Since he is now a starter he has to score goals. Osimhen too, he has finally adapted to the Italian league, tying his goals scored in ligue one at the end of the season.
Awoniyi doesn’t even have to play for the super eagles, a corrupted and thief of a team, I just want to see him do well. Lets see what happens.
Awoniyi is our most inform striker in Europe at the moment. 4 goals in 3 games in all competitions deserves a call up. Akpoguma is already certain to be called up, but he mostly plays right back for Hoffenheim. The first choice central defense pairing baring any injury should be Ekong and Balogun. If we play 3 center backs then Akpoguma or one of Awaziem and Omeruo or Ajayi can come in.
I will go with an attacking sequence of Osimhen, Iheanacho, Awoniyi, then Sadiq(Playing in the Spanish Segunda may really hurt his chances with the SuperEagles unless he made a really good impact whenever he makes his debut) Awoniyi will be a very suitable foil for Osimhen than Onuachu IMHO. He seems built for African football with a very good upper body strength. He can hold off defenders and he’s got an amazing pace. Such attributes will create a lot of chances for clinical finishers like Osimhen and Iheanacho. I really hope he makes the next list. If not he should be in the SuperEagles set up anytime soon. There’s also Simy we have great options in attack.
Osimhen just got a red card now….oh no…..first match of the season and he got sent off….now he has let his team down but hopefully Napoli will still get a win…..Incase such an incident occurred in the national team we need a like for like of osimhen to replace him at such Short notice and Awoniyi is the closest we have go to Osimhen hence the need for Awoniyi to be called up
Awoniyi is steadily turning into a goal machine. I want to believe his new status of finally getting to play in a top club and league as one of their owned players and not a loanee is really motivating him to give his best. Last season I heard he was starting because unions main striker was injured but this season he seems to be the main striker in the team, he is fit, in form and the coach believes in him which is all he needs to succeed. I hope he continues in this frame of mind and performance.
I would like him to be called up for the qualifiers in the National team, he will fit right in. Like I said before, if all things had gone his way, he would have been the main striker for the super eagles by now, but Osimhen is our number one and deservedly so but there is a place for awoniyi in the team.
I also want to say I prefer akpoguma as a centre defender, balogun wont be able to play at the top level for more years, his pace has already dropped drastically. So we need someone younger and faster to fill in that position. We need more quality central defenders, preferably one left footed central defender.
Osimhen needs to control himself during games. He shouldn’t react violently when provoked, it makes him an easy target. He will miss some games now. I guess thats good for the super eagles bcos he will be injury free for the qualifiers but its not good for his team that has paid so much for his services. Someone should talk to him and set him straight.