The Digest:
Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand has expressed sympathy after Nathan Tella was omitted from Nigeria's final AFCON 2025 squad. According to the coach, Tella held "real hopes" of making the team, though his club will benefit from keeping him during the tournament.
Key Points:
- Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand expressed disappointment over Nathan Tella’s AFCON omission
- Tella was left out of Coach Eric Chelle’s final 28-man squad for the tournament in Morocco
- Hjulmand acknowledged the situation is "beneficial for Leverkusen" but recognized Tella’s strong hopes
- The winger recently returned from a long-term injury before the squad announcement
- Leverkusen’s sporting director had previously suggested Tella would be included
- Hjulmand’s comments came ahead of Leverkusen’s Bundesliga match against Cologne
- The omission means Tella will remain with his club during the AFCON competition window
In football, a club’s gain is often a player’s personal storm, a missed chance at national glory for the steady rhythm of club duty. Hjulmand’s words frame the omission not as a slight, but as a bittersweet twist of fate where professional reliability overshadows international aspiration.
Sources: Complete Sports
