Super Eagles central defender Kevin Akpoguma has acknowledged that Hoffenheim are involved in a relegation battle following a 1-0 loss to VfL Wolfsburg at the weekend, a match in which Gift Orban made his debut for Die Kraichgauer.
The diminutive Mohamed Amoura scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 29th minute when he rose highest to slam a header past goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
Hoffenheim strengthened their attack in the January transfer window, signing Gift Orban from Lyon, but the 2023 Super Eagles invitee fired blanks in one hour of action on his Bundesliga debut against Wolfsburg.
In their last nine games in the German top-flight, Hoffenheim have managed just one win and find themselves in fifteenth place with fourteen points, one point above the drop zone.
In this season’s Bundesliga, only Union Berlin, Augsburg, FC St. Pauli, and VfL Bochum have netted fewer goals than Hoffenheim.
Speaking in a post-match interview, Akpoguma highlighted that Hoffenheim lost the game against Wolfsburg due to a poor first half.
“The first half was nothing. We were very nervous with the ball, we lacked courage. We also had a lot of trouble with the ball and never pressed,” he told reporters.
“After we conceded we were chasing the ball again. After the break things went a little better, but that’s normal.
“Wolfsburg did what they needed to defensively. In the end we were a little unlucky, but the first half broke our necks.
“That’s why we lost the game. We are in a relegation battle, that’s a fact. I know the situation. We have to stick together now, that’s what we’re doing.”
On Wednesday, Hoffenheim will take on league leaders Bayern Munich, followed by an away match against second-from-bottom Holstein Kiel three days later.
