Hjulmand reveals Nathan Tella’s disappointment at AFCON snub

Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand opened up on forward Nathan Tella’s dismay at not being listed in Nigeria’s final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle unveiled his final 28-man list on Thursday, the deadline given to all team coaches by the Confederation of African Football, and Tella was one of the notable absentees.

 

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​Speaking before Leverkusen’s Bundesliga match against Cologne in comments reported by Die Zeit, Hjulmand stated that the club would gain from keeping Tella during the tournament but the player wanted to represent his country.

“This is good for Leverkusen, of course. But Nathan had hopes, real hopes.”

Tella, who recently returned from a long injury spell, was not selected by Super Eagles coach Chelle despite earlier suggestions from Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes that he would make the trip to Morocco.

​Leverkusen had to release four players to AFCON: Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), Ibrahim Maza (Algeria), Christian Kofane (Cameroon) and Eliesse Ben Seghir (Morocco).