Noah Atubolu: Super Eagles’ Goalkeeping Solution?

With Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye being inactive for Omonia Nicosia and Udinese respectively, while Hapoel Jerusalem’s Adebayo Adeleye is set for life on the bench after some horrible performances since the beginning of the new season, Super Eagles Manager, Jose Peseiro is turning attention to Freiburg of Germany safe hands, Noah Atubolu, just as the Portuguese admitted it would be tough convincing the Nigerian descent to switch international allegiance to fatherland having represented Germany at age-grade levels

There is no doubt that the weakest link in the Nigeria senior national team, the Super Eagles in recent time has been the goalkeeping department. Indeed, Nigeria’s failure to hoist its flag at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the team’s second round exit at the last African Cup of Nations in Cameroon was heavily blamed on goalkeeping errors.

Infact, Francis Uzoho has been heavily criticized for his underwhelming performance in Super Eagles last two friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Mazambique in which he committed some school boy errors, notably the 2-2 draw against the Saudis.

Therefore, for the three-time African champions to do well at next year’s AFCON slated for Cote d’Ivoirie and even book a place in the 2026 Mundial, with the qualifications beginning next month, the problem between the sticks must be addressed fast and the national team manager, Jose Peseiro is already looking in the direction of Nigerian descent’s German Bundesliga, Freibur’s safehands, Noah Atubolu for solution, something the Portuguese has admitted would be a tough task.

The Portuguese football tactician has a goalkeeping crisis on his hands ahead of the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as his current crop of goalkeepers are either lacking match fitness or off form.

Omonia Nicosia’s Francis Uzoho and Udinese’s Maduka Okoye have been inactive for their respective clubs this season,while Hapoel Jerusalem’s Adebayo Adeleye has been heavily criticised for his performances in the new season so much so that manager Ziv Arie is considering dropping him from the starting lineup.

In the search for a reliable goalkeeper, Atubolu fits the bill as he is young and plays for a club in Europe’s top five leagues, but it is known that the 21-year-old is leaning towards representing Germany’s senior national team as was the case with Jordan Torunarigha and Kevin Akpoguma who later went on to play for the Super Eagles.

Atubolu has caps for Germany at U17, U19, U20 and U21 national teams and became provisionally cap-tied to his country of birth in May 2019 when he started against Austria at the 2019 U17 Euro.

According to German-based Nigerian journalist Oma Akatugba, he had a conversation with Jose Peseiro and brought up Noah Atobulu, but the Super Eagles coach and his staff  believe it could be challenging to convince him to switch to Nigeria due to his talent and prospects with the German national team.

Akatugba went on to say that Peseiro promised to work on convincing Atubolu to change his nationality, but didn’t appear entirely convinced that the Freiburg goalkeeper would switch his allegiance to the three-time African champions.

Atubolu was installed as first choice goalkeeper at Freiburg this season following the sale of Netherlands international, Mark Flekken to Premier League club Brentford.

The German-Nigerian glovesman has posted four clean sheets in 10  all-competition appearances for Freiburg in 2023-2024. A Freiburg player for approaching 13 years, Atubolu made his first-team debut during the 2022/23 campaign. The 6’3” custodian faced St. Pauli in a victorious DFB Cup second-round tie (2-1), as well as Qarabag in the UEFA Europa League groups (1-1) prior to the winter break. He then recorded his first clean sheet as a pro in 2-0 win over Sandhausen in the last 16 of the cup, adding to his 12 shut-outs across 25 appearances for Freiburg’s second string in the third tier. Atubolu has turned out over 80 times for the Freiburg reserves, helping them gain promotion to Germany’s 3. Liga as Regionalliga Südwest champions at the end of 2020/21. Three years earlier, he was part of the team that won the U19s German Cup. The Freiburg native has represented Germany since U17s level, and is currently the U21s’ first-choice goalkeeper. Broad shouldered, a sizable wingspan and lightning reactions enable Atubolu to pull off some stunning blocks at close quarters. He’s also super confident on the ball, boasts laser-guided distribution and once scored a goal from inside his own half for the Freiburg U17s. Although on course for a senior international career with Germany, Atubolu is eligible to represent Nigeria. According to reports, he’s already rejected overtures from Nigeria ‘s various youth teams and has even been approached by the senior camp. “It’s a massive step up from 3. Liga to the Bundesliga, but Noah’s been brilliant. He’s got more talent than I had at his age, “ -ex-Freiburg No.1 Flekken had stated. For Freiburg sporting director Klemens Hartenbach, “Noah exudes presence and confidence, and is mastering all the elements of a very good goalkeeping game.”

In 2019, Atubolu was among the goalkeepers of Nigerian descent that met with erstwhile Super Eagles Head coach,  Gemot Rohr during a visit to Germany, the other being Okoye who has since had 16 caps for the national team.

Atubolu, who confirmed meeting with Rohr while he was still playing for Freiburg 11 then in the fifth division, same as Okoye said, “I had the chance of playing for Nigeria after meeting with the coach in 2019 and its an option I can’t  rule out in the future.”

Last month, the Nigeria-eligible star withdrew from Germany U21 team ahead of Ukraine, Kosovo games. Atubolu is the first-choice goalkeeper for the German youth side, and he was named in the squad preparing to face Ukraine and Kosovo in international matches this month. But a spokesperson from SC Freiburg, as per the German press, confirmed that Atubolu will not be available for the games. According to the reports, Atubolu’s withdrawal from the matches results from an ankle injury he suffered. Despite representing Germany at U17, U19, and U21 levels, Atubolu remains eligible to play for the Super Eagles. Atubolu’s promotion to the Bundesliga could raise interest from the Nigeria Football Federation. Often compared to Manuel Neuer, Atubolu’s abilities are not in doubt. In his first few weeks in the Bundesliga, the 1.89m-tall gloveman has been nominated for the Rookie of the Month award.