Bundesliga Returns: Nigerian and Nigeria-Eligible players to watch as new season kicks off

From Jay-Jay Okocha to Awoniyi, Nigerians have always been in the Bundesliga. Today, we look at the Nigerians in the league.

Bayern Munich kicked off the new Bundesliga season by sweeping SV Werder Bremen to the side, as they forge on and look to win their twelfth consecutive Meisterschale, while teams like Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig can mount a rather tame challenge against them.

Soccernet.ng takes a look into the German top-flight leagues to enumerate the Nigerian players, and players eligible to switch their Nationality to Nigeria, who presently ply their trade in Germany.

1. Felix Uduokhai

Felix Uduokhai is a twenty-five-year-old central defender who recently renewed his contract with FC. Augsburg. Felix was born to a Nigerian father, and a German mother in Germany, and has over a hundred Bundesliga appearances to his name. He has played all Germany Youth levels and was even called up to the Senior team in 2020, but isn’t cap-tied as he is yet to make an appearance for them.

2. Noah Sarenren Bazee

Just like fellow Augsburg teammate, Uduokhai, Sarenren Bazee was born to a Nigerian Father and a German mother, in Stadthagen, Germany. He has been called up to the Super Eagles by former Nigeria coach, Gernot Rohr, in 2017, but is yet to play a minute of football for Nigeria.The twenty-six-year-old winger plies his trade with FC. Augsburg.

3. Victor Boniface

A man on a mission to tear the Bundesliga up, and with a brace on his DFB Pokal, he is not showing any signs of slowing down.The twenty-three-year-old signed for Bayer Leverkusen from Belgian Pro League side, Union Saint Gilloise.

4. Felix Agu

Born in Osnabruck, Germany, the twenty-three-year-old Werder Bremen full-back has expressed a desire to play for the Super Eagles, although he represented Germany at youth level, but has Nigerian parents.The defender couldn’t feature against Bayern Munich last night after picking up an injury.

5. Justin Njinmah

Like Uduokhai and Sarenren Bazee at Augsburg, Njinmah is teammates with Felix Agu. He left Weser Stadium to join Borussia Dortmund in 2022 on loan, but has now returned to the Werder setup, and he is yet to make an appearance for Die Grün-Weißen.6. Nnamdi Collins

Standing at 1.91metres tall and with a lightning quick pace at the age of nineteen, the Frankfurt centre back made the switch from Borussia Dortmund to the Commerzbank Arena in search of more playing time. Collins has represented Germany from the Under-15 level till under-18 level, but he is eligible to play for Nigeria, via his family, as they’re from Nigeria.

7. Noah Atubolu

Born on May 25th, 2002, the goalkeeper was included in SC Freiburg’s first team this season, and has represented Germany from the Under 17’s and the Under 21’s first choice goalkeeper. He has been notable for his leadership skills in the youth team and will be at the top sooner, rather than later.He is eligible to play for Nigeria as he is of Nigerian descent. He has been with Freiburg for almost 15 years, making his first-team debut during the 2022/23 campaign against St. Pauli in the DFB Cup second-round tie, as Freiburg won the game 2-1.

He also played in the UEFA Europa League against FK Qarabag in one-all draw. He also made over eighty appearances for Freiburg reserves, helping them gain promotion to Germany’s 3. Liga as Regionalliga Südwest champions at the end of 2020/21.