Akpoguma, who plays for German Bundesliga side, Hoffenheim, suffered a facial injury in the first match, which the Super Eagles lost 1-0 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja last Friday.
After receiving medical attention from the Super Eagles medics on the pitch, Akpoguma who couldn’t continue the game was later replaced by Semi Ajayi in the 56th minutes.
Mama Balde’s first-half goal gave the Wild Dogs the win and shot them top of Group A with 7 points from three games, while Nigeria are in second position with 6 points from the same number of games.
SportingSun gathered that Akpoguma was not part of the Super Eagles training on Saturday night and is now expected to miss the reverse fixture.
Meanwhile, a star-studded Super Eagles will hope to feast on the Wild Dogs and retain the group’s top spot, as they square things up on Matchday 4 in a must-win game at the Estádio 24 de Setembro.
Recall, it was a disappointing showing from the three times AFCON champions who on Friday lost the 1st leg of the AFCON 2023 qualifier at the Moshood Abiola Stadium via a lone goal to the Wild Dogs.
It turned out to be Super Eagles’ fourth successive defeat under Jose Peseiro since becoming manager after the sacking of Franco-German Gernot Rohr.
The victory saw the Wild Dogs leapfrog the Super Eagles as Group A leaders on 7 points, after two wins and a draw, while Nigeria is second with 6 points from two wins and a defeat, from the same number of matches.
Coach Jose Peseiro’s Eagles need a win to boost Nigeria’s chances of qualification to the AFCON in Ivory Coast.
