Nigerian goalkeeper Noah Atubolu earns maiden German senior national team call-up

SC Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu has received his first German senior national team call-up.

The German Football Association confirmed on Monday that Atubolu, who is of Nigerian descent, was drafted into the squad after Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann withdrew due to illness.

The 23-year-old’s consistent performances for Freiburg have now been rewarded with his first opportunity at the senior international level.

Interestingly, Atubolu almost missed the big news. Speaking to Bild, he revealed that he had been taking a nap after a late-night return from Freiburg’s Bundesliga match against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

“We came home very late on Sunday night after the game in Mönchengladbach, and I took a nap after morning training,” Atubolu said.

He added, “After waking up, I saw several missed calls on my phone from national goalkeeper coach Andreas Kronenberg and Freiburg’s goalkeeping coach Michael Müller. They told me the driver would be here soon, and I had to go.”

Atubolu, who has been in fine form this season, now joins Germany’s camp ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland.