Noah Atubolu, the Freiburg goalkeeper, was notably absent from the Germany national team selection for the upcoming international break, despite recently expressing his desire to play for the German senior team. This decision comes after Atubolu publicly stated last weekend that he was eager for a call-up to Germany’s senior squad, rather than considering a future with Nigeria.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper had just set a new club record by going 576 minutes without conceding a goal in the Bundesliga, which further fueled speculation about his international future. Following his achievement, Atubolu confirmed his aspirations to represent Germany, saying, “I really want to get the chance to play for the senior national team. I have played for the national team in various age groups, and I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I have a desire to strengthen the senior national team.”
Despite this, Germany’s coach Julian Nagelsmann released his 23-man squad for the UEFA Nations League without calling up Atubolu, opting instead for goalkeepers Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nübel, and Stefan Ortega. Atubolu’s hopes were bolstered by the recent retirement of Manuel Neuer and an injury to Marc-André ter Stegen, but he still failed to make the cut.
Born to a German mother and a Nigerian father, Atubolu is eligible to represent both nations, but it appears the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has also overlooked him for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. He was not included in coach Eric Chelle’s squad for those matches either.
Atubolu’s absence from both national teams’ selections is a surprise, especially given his standout performances in the Bundesliga this season, where he has kept 10 clean sheets in 25 games, including a 0-0 draw against RB Leipzig that set the new Freiburg record. With the fifth-longest clean sheet streak in Bundesliga history, Atubolu’s strong club form has highlighted his growing potential, yet he still remains on the sidelines in terms of international recognition.
