The head coach of the German national team, Julian Nagelsmann, has announced his 27-man preliminary squad for the 2023 European Championship, Soccernet.ng reports.
Notably absent from the squad is German-born Karim Adeyemi, who has Nigerian heritage. Despite his impressive performance, which helped steer Borussia Dortmund to the final of the UEFA Champions League, Adeyemi has been left out.
His last appearance for the German national team was in 2022 against Hungary, and this omission dashes his hopes for competitive participation.
This exclusion opens the door for the Nigeria Football Federation to potentially invite Adeyemi to play for the Super Eagles, given his considerable talent.
Can Karim Play for Nigeria?
Recent discussions have excited Nigerian football fans about the possibility of Karim Adeyemi playing for the Super Eagles.
Although Adeyemi has represented Germany at various youth levels and earned caps for their senior national team, he remains eligible to switch allegiance under specific circumstances.
FIFA’s eligibility criteria allow players to switch national teams if they have played no more than three competitive matches at the senior level before turning 21.
Adeyemi has played four games for Germany, including three World Cup qualifiers and one UEFA Nations League match.
However, these appearances do not fully meet the competitive match threshold, leaving the door open for him to potentially join the Super Eagles.
Karim’s Love for Nigeria
Adeyemi was born in Munich, Germany, to Abbey Adeyemi, a Nigerian father, and Alexandra Adeyemi, a Romanian mother. He has played for Germany in various youth international competitions.
Despite his ties to Germany, Adeyemi’s football journey began in both Munich and Ibadan, Nigeria, deepening his connection to Nigeria.
Adeyemi has highlighted his strong ties to Nigeria through his father and his cherished childhood memories of playing street football with friends during visits.
“I think I have my roots here. My father is from here, and his heart is still in Nigeria. Of course, my heart is also here in Nigeria,” he told Soccernet.ng.
Karim Could Play for Nigeria
During a visit to the Karim Adeyemi Foundation’s Football Academy at Olubadan Stadium in Ibadan, a 12-year-old asked why he chose not to play for Nigeria. Adeyemi explained that Germany had approached him first, saying, “Germany came first.”
In an interview with Soccernet.ng, Adeyemi was asked if he would consider playing for the Super Eagles if given the opportunity. He enthusiastically replied yes, praising Nigeria’s football legacy and the quality of its players.
“If I had the chance, of course. I think it’s a great national team. In the future, they will be great; they have good players, and in the past, they were also great,” he said.
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