Nigeria-eligible goalkeeper Noah Atubolu continues to make headlines in the Bundesliga after delivering another stunning performance in SC Freiburg’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen on Friday night.
The 22-year-old further cemented his reputation as a penalty-stopping specialist by denying André Silva from the spot, setting a new Bundesliga record with his fourth consecutive penalty save.
Atubolu’s Heroics Between the Sticks
Atubolu had already stopped spot-kicks from Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz and Union Berlin’s Josip Juranovic and Kevin Volland last season.
On Friday, he added another to his collection, diving sharply to keep out Silva’s effort after a VAR review penalized Kiliann Sildillia for handball.
Freiburg’s dominant display propelled them into the Bundesliga’s final Champions League spot, but Atubolu’s save in the 39th minute was the defining moment, preventing Bremen from clawing their way back into the contest.
Silva struck his penalty powerfully toward the right corner, but Atubolu anticipated it perfectly, parrying the effort away.
The young goalkeeper was thrilled with his feat, telling DAZN, via Kicker:
“That looked cool! I was very happy to save a penalty here at home in front of our fans.”
Atubolu now joins an elite group of Bundesliga goalkeepers, Jörg Butt, Frank Rost, Thomas Zander, and Bernd Leno as one of the few to have saved four consecutive penalties in league history.
When asked about his secret to stopping spot-kicks, he remained tight-lipped:
“I spend a lot of time studying penalties and preparing for every situation. Of course, I have my tricks, but I won’t reveal them,” he said with a grin.
A Future with the Super Eagles?
Born in Germany to Nigerian parents of Igbo descent, Atubolu has represented Germany at U17, U19, and U21 levels.
However, with Nigeria still searching for a reliable long-term goalkeeper, officials are keen to persuade him to switch allegiance.
Atubolu’s reflexes, commanding presence, and ability to deliver under pressure have made him one of Europe’s most promising young goalkeepers.
If Nigeria can convince him to commit to the Super Eagles, he could be the solution to the team’s long-standing goalkeeping concerns.
With his rapid rise in the Bundesliga, the race for his international future is heating up. Will Atubolu choose to don the green and white of Nigeria, or will he remain with Germany? Only time will tell.
