Noah Atubolu, the Freiburg goalkeeper of Nigerian descent, has been snubbed by both Germany and Nigeria’s national teams despite his impressive run in the Bundesliga.
Atubolu had expressed his desire to play for Germany’s senior national team after setting a new club record of 576 minutes without conceding a goal. “Of course, I really want to get the chance to play for the senior national team,” Atubolu said via Football5Star. “I have played for the national team in various age groups. I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I have a desire to strengthen the senior national team.”
However, Germany’s coach Julian Nagelsmann did not include Atubolu in his 23-man squad for the UEFA Nations League, opting instead for Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nübel, and Stefan Ortega.
Atubolu’s potential inclusion was heightened by Manuel Neur’s retirement and an injury to Marc Andre Ter Stegen. Nevertheless, Nagelsmann chose to overlook the 22-year-old goalkeeper.
Born to a German mother and Nigerian father, Atubolu is eligible to play for both Germany and Nigeria. However, it seems the Nigeria Football Federation has also moved on from him, as he was not listed in coach Eric Chelle’s squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Atubolu has been impressive in the German Bundesliga this season, setting a new club record of not conceding for consecutive games during Freiburg’s 0-0 draw against RB Leipzig on Saturday. He has now gone 576 minutes without conceding a goal, the fifth-longest clean sheet streak in Bundesliga history.
Atubolu has 10 clean sheets after 25 games this season, making him one of the top goalkeepers in the league. Despite his impressive performance, Atubolu’s international future remains uncertain.