Kevin Ufuoma Akpoguma has been granted clearance by FIFA to represent Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick revealed on Monday.

The Germany-born centre defender has been on the wishlist of Eagles manager Gernot Rohr who recently confirmed the player was on the verge of switching allegiances to the three-time African champions.

Although he has represented Germany’s youth teams, making a total of 62 appearances from U16 to U21 level, the 25-year-old Hoffenheim mainstay is eligible to play for Nigeria through his father.

And NFF president Pinnick revealed on Twitter that all is now set for Akpoguma to don Nigeria’s green and white with immediate effect after the world-governing body approved his switch.

“However, I’m extremely happy to announce that [FIFA] has just granted Hoffenheim defender and former German U-20 national team skipper Kevin Ufuoma Akpoguma permission to make his switch to Nigeria with immediate effect,” Pinnick tweeted.

A statement from the NFF on Monday revealed Akpoguma has already started integrating with the national team and familiarising himself with his new teammates after visiting the team’s Austria camp where they are preparing for friendlies against Tunisia and Algeria later in the week.

Although he wasn’t part of the initial list of players called up for the friendlies, Akpoguma could yet make his debut in either game having received his international clearance or alternatively, he could make his international bow when Nigeria play Sierra Leone in November’s doubleheader Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.