Tag: Nathan Tella

Bayer Leverkusen, head coach Kasper Hjulmand says the club will benefit from Nathan Tella’s omission from Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Hjulmand, however, said the winger is disappointed to be left out of the squad.

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Tella was one of the notable omissions from the Super Eagles’ 28-man squad released by head coach, Eric Chelle this week.

The former Burnley star was hopeful of making the list after recovering from the injury that sidelined for several weeks.

The 26-year-old will, however, have to wait before adding to his two caps for the Super Eagles.

Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand has confirmed that Super Eagles forward Nathan Tella is back in the squad ahead of their Bundesliga game against Wolfsburg on Saturday, Soccernet.ng reports.

Tella has been dealing with a niggling injury since the second week of September. In a recent interview, he revealed that he had been feeling some discomfort for a while, but it worsened during Die Werkself’s 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on September 12.

However, two weeks ago, Coach Hjulmand revealed that the Super Eagles star could return to action after the international break.

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The former Southampton player returned to full first-team training earlier in the week. In what is a boost for Bayer Leverkusen, Coach Hjulmand has now confirmed that Tella will be available for action in their Bundesliga game at Wolfsburg.

When asked about the Super Eagles star in the pre-match conference, Hjulmand stated: “Nathan [Tella] is back in the squad,” per Werkself Xtra.

Although Tella is now fully fit, it is unlikely that he will start. He has spent over two months on the sidelines and will need time to reach full match fitness.

Bayer Leverkusen winger Nathan Tella will not be available for Super Eagles selection for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs.

In just over two weeks, the Super Eagles will resume international duty. They will take on Gabon in the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup playoffs. If they survive, they will then face the winner of the game between DR Congo and Cameroon a few days later.

Going into those games, coach Eric Chelle would need all the quality he can get, as Nigeria’s World Cup qualification is on the line.

Read Also: Aiyegbeni, Oshaniwa berate NFF for blaming  Ekong, Dessers for Super Eagles’ woes 

But according to , Soccernet.ng reports, the Franco-Malian tactician will be missing the services of one of Nigeria’s finest attackers Nathan Tella.

This is as Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand has stated that the Super Eagles star is yet to recover from a knee injury, which he has been struggling with since last month.

 “With Nathan Tella, the injury was more difficult and complicated than we first thought,” Hjulmand said per Werkself Xtra. “I think he’ll need the international break as well. It’s looking better and better, but I can’t say when he’ll return exactly.”

Tella’s absence will be a minus for the Super Eagles is a blow, as it limits coach Eric Chelle’s attacking options.

But he won’t really be missed, provided the other Nigerian attackers like Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, and Moses Simon are fit and ready to go.

Tella will be hoping to heal quickly and return to action for Bayer Leverkusen soon enough.

Super Eagles forward Nathan Tella will now work under a new coach following Bayer Leverkusen’s appointment of Danish tactician Kasper Hjulmand as head coach.

Hjulmand, who led Denmark’s national team between 2020 and 2024, was officially unveiled on Monday as the successor to Erik ten Hag.

The Dutchman was dismissed after a poor start to the Bundesliga season, losing 3-1 at home to Hoffenheim on the opening weekend and drawing 2-2 with 10-man Werder Bremen before the international break.

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In confirming the appointment, Leverkusen stated: “Welcome to Leverkusen, Kasper Hjulmand! Bayer 04 has appointed the 53-year-old Dane as its new head coach, signing him to a contract until June 30, 2027.”

Tella, who started both matches under Ten Hag and provided an assist in the thrilling 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen, will now aim to impress his new manager as he continues his bright start to life at the club.

By Daniel Akinte

Nigerian international Nathan Tella has spoken widely on how his former manager, Xabi Alonso, revolutionized his game and professional outlook at Bayer Leverkusen.

Tella, who was a traditional winger, was often deployed as a wing-back under Alonso’s system.

Moving to a different tactical approach was tough for Tella at first, but it pushed him to grow as a player and become more adaptable. Working with the well-respected coach not only improved his on-field skills but also boosted his confidence and maturity.

The 26-year-old winger attributes Alonso’s coaching style and man-management for his growth, noting that the Spaniard’s down-to-earth nature and diligence pushed him and the team to achieve historic success, including the 2023/24 Bundesliga title where they went unbeaten over 34 matches.

Tella’s reflections provide insight into the profound impact a manager can have on a player’s career, going beyond just tactical instructions to influence their entire perspective on football.

After spending time in Arsenal’s academy in 2017, Tella, an English-born player of Nigerian descent, moved to Southampton in the Premier League and then helped Burnley gain promotion to the top flight of English football in 2022.

“My understanding of football changed,” Tella credits his former coach. “I thought it was quite a defensive role, but the way he had me playing, it was like I was playing as a winger. I don’t want to say I enjoyed it because it’s not my position, but it brought a lot out of me, and I feel like it helped me for the future.

“As a person, he’s down to earth. You’d never think that he’s had the career he’s had by the way he speaks to us as players. He never let it get to his head. Even when we were doing the unbeaten run, the invincible season, he kept focusing on just one game at a time, one game a time and see what happens – and it worked out well.”

Despite expecting a smooth transition after joining Leverkusen in 2023, Tella found it surprisingly difficult to adapt to his new surroundings but he was able to get along as the season goes by.

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“At the start it was hard, I didn’t think it would be as hard as what I thought it would be,” Tella admits. “I thought I could just come in straight away and hit the ground running. As the season went on, I got more comfortable with the team.

“I understood how my team wanted me to play, how the coach wanted me to play, what it meant for the fans and to myself. To be a part of an amazing season in my first year to win the Bundesliga, to get to the final of the Europa League and to win a Pokal is something I didn’t even expect to happen.”

Super Eagles a dream come true

Reflecting on his Super Eagles debut in a 2023 World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe, a match that ended in a 1-1 draw, the Nigerian international described fulfilling a lifelong dream. He spoke of the honor and opportunity to represent both his family and his country.

Additionally, Tella recalled watching the Super Eagles at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, an experience that ignited his desire to one day play for the Nigerian national team

The Leverkusen player had to wait almost two years for his second cap on green shirt, which came at the Unity Cup in London, an invitational tournament revived after 21 years and organised between four nations with the largest diasporas.

“When I officially saw it, that’s what I was focusing on. I wanted to be called up for this,” Tella said. “This is an opportunity to play in front of my family representing my country, and I really don’t think I’ve had a bigger honour in my life up to date. It’s not just good for football, but it’s also good for the community, Africans and Caribbeans all around England.”

In Tella’s second appearance for Nigeria, Tella played against Jamaica in the Unity Cup final, a match Super Eagles ultimately won in a penalty shootout, securing the trophy.

Although, the Cup may have officially been an international friendly, yet it is something Tella holds and hold dear to him for the rest of his career.

“It’s a different experience because obviously, it is Nigeria, they’re so passionate and it’s your country. But to see our fans here in London, even if they are from London or they’ve travelled over to watch, it was just a crazy, crazy feeling,” Tella explained.

Showcasing Africa to the world through sport

With the new season kicking off already, Tella has a crucial year ahead for both his club and his country. He’ll be expecting to play under a new manager and competing in the UEFA Champions League with Bayer Leverkusen, while the pressure weighs heavy for Nigeria to deliver.

Wit.h four matches to go for the World Cup spot, can the Super Eagles return to the World Cup stage for the first time since 2018? Super Eagles sat on fourth with seven points on the world cup qualifying table while the group leader has thirteen points with expectation of three points deduction after featuring an ineligible player against Lesotho.

They must find a way through their qualifying group over the next few months, followed by the hotly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) starting in December 2025.

After not playing for the Super Eagles in 2023, Tella is hoping to secure a spot on the team for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

“Because I missed out on the AFCON last year, my first aim is to be in the squad for that because I saw how well the boys did, and obviously the final was unfortunate,” Tella said. “Seeing the boys representing my country, and our country doing really well, made me proud and that’s what motivated me even more.

“To even be selected, I need to show what I can do at club level. I need to take myself to the next step because to play for Nigeria, you’re not just handed the shirt. You have to earn it. You have work hard for it and then once you get in, it’s to stay in. There’s no better feeling, no bigger achievement than being able to represent your country.”

Super Eagles attacker Nathan Tella has emerged as a transfer target for five English Premier League clubs Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Burnley, and Brentford, Soccernet.ng reports.

Tella has spent the last two years with German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen, joining from Southampton in a €23.3 million deal.

Since moving to the former Bundesliga champions, he has failed to establish himself as a regular starter. He has had flashes of brilliance, but he has failed to produce a run of impressive performances.

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Under former coach Xabi Alonso, Tella was deployed across different positions on the pitch, and that affected his performances.

However, under the new coach Erik Ten Hag, his situation has improved a bit, as he is now being used as a winger.

Meanwhile, even though he has not been great at Bayer Leverkusen, Tella has attracted interest from some Premier League clubs like Brighton, Leeds, Burnley, Brentford, and Nottingham Forest.

Nigeria international and Bayer Leverkusen forward Nathan Tella has revealed his preferred role on the pitch, expressing a clear inclination toward playing in advanced attacking positions.

The dynamic Super Eagles attacker, known for his versatility, admitted that while he feels most comfortable operating in the final third, he remains committed to contributing wherever his coach needs him.

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 “I said a year ago that I’ve always enjoyed playing as an attacking player. Of course, I play wherever the coach puts me and I help the team as best I can,” Tella told Werkself Xtra.

“But I know that I can do better as an attacker. We have big ambitions, and I hope I get the chance to prove myself as a winger.

“To do that, I have to give my all in training and I will. What might give me an advantage is that I can play on both wings.”

Super Eagles winger Nathan Tella has disclosed that he would have no problems working with  former Manchester United head coach Erik Ten Hag who was recently confirmed for Bayer Leverkusen.

In an interview with Flashscore, the 24-year-old thumbed up Ten Hag’s credentials and defended the Dutchman’s time at Old Trafford, highlighting his broader achievements in European football.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Tella said. “I think he’s a very good manager. People tend to focus only on what he did at Manchester United, but they forget he won two trophies there — and what he achieved with Ajax was incredible.”

Ten Hag, who famously led Ajax to multiple Eredivisie titles and a UEFA Champions League semi-final in 2019, recently parted ways with Manchester United after an uneventful stint in England.

Despite mixed results, Tella admitted the appointment is a strong endorsement of the manager’s pedigree.

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“To go from Ajax to Manchester United already says a lot about his quality. Even though things didn’t go exactly as some people hoped at United, the fact that he’s now coming to Leverkusen — especially after someone like Xabi Alonso — shows how highly regarded he still is.”

Tella heads into the new era with momentum, having enjoyed appreciable playing time in 2024/25 season.

The winger contributed 4 goals and 5 assists in 38 matches across all competitions, though a better average playing time compared to his performance in Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten domestic campaign and their maiden Bundesliga title of 2023/2024 season.

Ten Hag replaced  Alonso, who departed for Real Madrid a successful stint with Leverkusen.

Tella, who thrived under Alonso’s system, is eager to continue developing under another top-tier tactician.

“I haven’t even met him yet — I’ve just seen the pictures of him signing — but that alone has motivated me. It’s another big name in world football, and I’m excited for the opportunity to learn from him and show what I can do.”

Bayer Leverkusen attacker  Nathan Tella is worried over  the Super Eagles’  precarious position in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, admitting  the race for the ticket is no longer in their hands.

Nigeria is fourth in the World Cup qualifying table with just seven points from six games in Group C behind South Africa (13 points),  Rwanda (8 points) and Benin Republic (8 points) ahead of the games with Rwanda (home) and South Africa (away) in September.

Tella who missed the qualifiers against Rwanda in Kigali and Zimbabwe at home due to injury,  said the Super  Eagles  would fight their  way  to next World Cup  as he prays  for  slip ups  by other contenders.

“It is frustrating to see what is happening to us in the World Cup qualifiers. We want to work to get to the World Cup but we can only focus on what we can control now,” he told NFF TV.

Meanwhile, the former Southampton striker expressed his joy at his return to the Super Eagles, adding he was  unavailable all this while  due to injuries.

He said: “I am happy to be back. I want to correct the perception that I do not want to play for the national team. It has never been the case. I have just been unfortunate with injuries. I copped an injury shortly before our last games in the World Cup qualifiers.

“Playing for the Super Eagles gives me a chance to connect with my roots. It gives me an opportunity to represent my family with Pride. It also gives me an opportunity to play with some of the best players in the country. It is an opportunity for me to improve as well.”

Tella played 39 games for Bayer Leverkusen in all competitions with   four goals and  five assists.

Unity Cup Tournament: Super Eagles edge Black Stars in London thriller

Nigeria and Ghana ignited an electric atmosphere at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford on Wednesday, with the Super Eagles coming out tops in a sweet 2-1 victory that sprung them into Saturday’s final.

A rapturous evening in West London began in frenetic pace, with Cyriel Dessers asking hard questions of the Ghanaian defence, and it was not long before he got his reward. In the 14^th minute, defender Sodiq Ismaila darted to the right wing and sent the ball into the box, and Dessers took full advantage of a defender who slipped while trying to clear the ball, chested down brilliantly and fired past goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.

Five minutes later, another audacious move resulted in another goal. Samuel Chukwueze sent the ball into the box from a free-kick 25 yards out, and defender Semi Ajayi’s header saw the ball deflected off the body of a defender to wrongfoot Asare for Nigeria’s second.

Now in the ascendancy, the Super Eagles could have increased the tally two minutes later, but the exciting Dessers saw his cross into the box begging for connection.

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A roar went out from the large Ghanaian population in the stadium when goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a mistake while trying to kick the ball to defender Igoh Ogbu, but the South Africa-based safe hands made a one-handed save to parry the resulting effort away from goal.

Asare denied Sikiru Alimi in the 32^nd minute, and at the other end, the Remo Stars’ forward was on hand to head the ball to safety as Ghana launched with a free-kick from the left.

Skipper Jordan Ayew was a thorn in the Eagles’ flesh throughout the second half, with deft touches that left the Super Eagles’ defenders flummoxed at times, and his combination with Christopher Bonsu Baah and Brandon Thomas Asante eventually produced the Black Stars’ only goal with 20 minuets left. Ayew came pretty close to netting the equalizer in the 77^th minute, but missed the target.  

Nigeria will square up to Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz in Saturday’s final, while the Black Stars take on the Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago in the third-place match starting at 12.30pm.

Jamaica edged another thrilling game on Tuesday, beating the Soca Warriors 3-2 with a penalty kick in added time, and will file out against the Super Eagles at 5pm on Saturday.