Euro 2024: Is Karim Adeyemi still eligible for Super Eagles after Germany snub

Borussia Dortmund star Karim Adeyemi could still represent Nigeria despite playing for Germany

Euro 2024: Is Karim Adeyemi still eligible for Super Eagles after Germany snub

Joba Ogunwale 18:35 - 16.05.2024

Is Karim Adeyemi eligible for Nigeria’s Super Eagles despite representing Germany four times?

Nigeria’s Super Eagles may have been handed a huge boost in their bid to cap Borussia Dortmund star Karim Adeyemi.

Adeyemi's Germany career

Adeyemi currently represents Germany at the international level, having represented the four-time world champions from the youth level. 

The Borussia Dortmund star started his Germany career with U-16 in February 2018 before going on to make his debut for the senior team three years ago. 

Karim Adeyemi in a Germany shirt
Karim Adeyemi currently represents Germany (IMAGO)

However, despite playing for the German national team, Adeyemi could likely still switch international allegiance to Nigeria. 

The 22-year-old is eligible to represent the three-time African champions through his father, who is a full-blooded Nigerian. 

Karim Adeyemi constantly visits Nigeria to invest in local football | Credit: Instagram

Adeyemi is not shy of his Nigerian heritage as he visits the country regularly to promote his academy in Ibadan, Oyo State. 

Is Adeyemi eligible to play for Nigeria’s Super Eagles? 

Although Adeyemi has made four competitive appearances for Germany, the former RB Salzburg star can still play for Nigeria after he was snubbed in Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad for Euro 2024. 

The former Bayern Munich coach named his squad for the showpiece, which Germany will host, but there is no place for Adeyemi in the squad along with some other big names. 

With Adeyemi out, the Super Eagles have an opportunity to convince the youngster to switch international allegiance despite playing four competitive games for Germany. 

Under the new FIFA rule, a player can switch international allegiance if he has played not more than three competitive matches before turning 21. 

However, those three competitive matches have to be in international competitions like the World Cup or continental tournaments.

While Adeyemi does have four competitive caps under his belt for Germany, three of them came in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with the other cap coming in the UEFA Nations League. 

Even though it remains to be seen how FIFA interprets his participation in the UEFA Nations League, Adeyemi’s omission from Germany's squad for the Euros is a big boost for Finidi George’s Super Eagles. 

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