Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi was left out of the Germany squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 championship, scheduled to take place in Germany next month.
On Thursday, Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann named a 27-man squad for the championship, opting not to include Adeyemi in the Euros squad.
the 22-year-old has been in fine form over the last couple of months but still could not make the cut.
He has made 20 Bundesliga appearances for Die Schwarzgelben, starting nine of them, with an average playing time of 43 minutes per game. During these appearances, he has scored three goals and registered one assist.
Adeyemi played a huge part in Borussia Dortmund's impressive Champions League campaign, as he started both legs of their semi-final victory over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
In Europe's biggest football club competition, the 22-year-old has seven starts and 11 appearances to his name this season, with two goals and an assist.
What is Karim Adeyemi's connection to Nigeria?
Adeyemi, born in Munich, Germany, to a Nigerian father and Romanian mother, has represented Germany in various youth categories, including the under-16s, under-17s, and under-21s.
He made his senior debut for the German national team in a 6–0 victory over Armenia in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier on 5 September 2021. Adeyemi scored his first goal for the senior team as a late substitute in injury time.
This debut occurred while he was a player for Red Bull Salzburg, marking the first instance in the post-war period of a player from an Austrian club featuring for the German senior national team.
Despite being named in the German squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Adeyemi did not appear in any matches, as Germany exited the tournament in the group stage.
Adeyemi's ties to Nigeria have deepened over time. In the latest Bundesliga winter break, the emerging forward traveled to Nigeria to engage in philanthropic activities through his foundation.
The former RB Salzburg winger has committed to an ambitious goal of offering education to one thousand students and grooming 5,000 professional footballers in Oyo State by 2030.
During his visit to Nigeria for the winter break, Adeyemi inaugurated a water borehole in Odo Osun, a development that will benefit more than 20,000 residents in the community.
In April, his foundation marked the United Nations' International Day of Sports for Development and Peace by hosting an Essay Competition for secondary school students in Oyo State.
Why Adeyemi is ineligible to play for Nigeria
Adeyemi earned his senior debut in 2021 during a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Armenia, scoring a goal as Germany secured a resounding 6-0 victory.
Since then, he has made three additional appearances for Die Mannschaft – two in World Cup qualifiers and one in the UEFA Nations League. These appearances render him ineligible to play for Nigeria.
Furthermore, Adeyemi was part of Germany's squad for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, although he did not feature in any matches.
According to FIFA's updated eligibility regulations, a player who has been capped by one country can switch nationalities to play for another, provided they have not played more than three competitive senior games before turning 21.
Having already appeared four times for Germany, Adeyemi is disqualified from representing Nigeria. While his decision to play for Germany appears final, Adeyemi expresses reluctance to face the Super Eagles in international matches.
In his own words to Bundesliga.com, he said, “To be honest, no, because somebody has to lose. I will hope not to play against them because I want Nigeria to have a good journey.”
Will Adeyemi rue Nigeria rejection?
Adeyemi's decision to represent Germany at the international level has sparked debates and raised questions among Nigerian football enthusiasts.
With his Nigerian roots, Adeyemi's eligibility to play for Nigeria seemed promising, offering the Super Eagles a potential attacking asset.
However, his choice to wear the colours of Die Mannschaft has left many wondering if he will come to regret neglecting the opportunity to represent Nigeria on the international stage.
But, his decision to play for Germany came at a cost, rendering him ineligible to represent Nigeria due to FIFA's regulations on player eligibility.
While Adeyemi's club career continues to thrive, with impressive performances for Dortmund, the absence of international representation for Germany leaves a void that many believe could have been filled by the talented forward.
As he watches from the sidelines during international tournaments, the question remains: will Adeyemi come to regret neglecting the chance to don the green and white of the Super Eagles?
Only time will tell whether his decision to prioritise his international career with Germany over Nigeria will be one that he ultimately regrets. Until then, football enthusiasts can only speculate on what could have been.
