Noah Atubolu, SC Freiburg goalkeeper, was omitted from Germany’s squad for the UEFA Nations League, providing Nigeria a chance to recruit him. Atubolu has been in exceptional form with six clean sheets and a club record of 510 minutes without conceding. Having represented Germany at youth levels, he now has the option to pursue international play with Nigeria.
On March 13, 2025, the Nigeria Football Federation received significant news regarding goalie Noah Atubolu of SC Freiburg. Germany’s national team coach, Julian Nagelsmann, announced his squad for the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals, notably excluding Atubolu from the list of 23 players. This presents an opportunity for Nigeria as Atubolu, in stellar form with six consecutive clean sheets, is not cap-tied to Germany should he choose to represent Nigeria instead.
Noah Atubolu hails from Freiburg im Breisgau and achieved a historic milestone by completing 510 minutes without conceding a single goal, surpassing the previous club record set in the 2001-2002 season by Richard Golz. Despite his outstanding performance in the Bundesliga and being on Nagelsmann’s radar, Atubolu was not among the three goalkeepers selected, with Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nübel, and Stefan Ortega Moreno chosen instead for the matches against Italy.
Atubolu has a history with Germany’s national youth teams, having represented the country at the U17, U19, and U20 levels, as well as appearing 15 times for the U21 squad since his debut in March 2022 against Latvia. The omission from the senior squad allows him the flexibility to pursue representing Nigeria. This situation could potentially influence his international career and the future dynamics of goalkeeping for both Nigeria and Germany.
The exclusion of Noah Atubolu from the German national team provides a boost for the Nigeria Football Federation. Given Atubolu’s remarkable form and absence from the German squad, Nigeria now has the opportunity to secure the talented goalkeeper, which could significantly enhance their team dynamics ahead of future competitions. His performance has not only shattered club records but has also placed him at a strategic crossroad in his international career.
Original Source: www.allnigeriasoccer.com
