Bayer Leverkusen hoping Nathan Tella is not named in Super Eagles' final AFCON squad 

In the worse case scenario, German Bundesliga table toppers Bayer Leverkusen could be without five African players when the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations begins in Ivory Coast. 

The Nigerian duo of Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella, Moroccan winger Amine Adli, Burkina Faso centre back Edmond Tapsoba and Ivorian defender Odilon Kossounou have been named in their respective countries provisional squad for the Africa Cup of Nations. 

It is a foregone conclusion that Boniface will be on the plane to Ivory Coast in the second week of January but the same cannot be said of Arsenal's Hale End Academy product Tella who is not guaranteed a roster spot. 

According to German sports magazine Kicker, there are hopes in Bayer Leverkusen that Nathan Tella and Odilon Kossouno might not end up going to the continental tournament.

Tella has yet to break into Bayer Leverkusen's starting lineup since his summer move from Southampton. 

The 24-year-old has played in sixteen games for the Black and Reds but has not started a game in the Bundesliga after sixteen rounds of matches. 

It would be difficult for Tella to crack Nigeria's final AFCON squad, given that he is battling the likes of captain Ahmed Musa, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Emmanuel Dennis and Samuel Chukwueze for one of the spots on the wings. 

What he has going for him is his versatility as he can also be deployed as a number 10, striker and makeshift right-back. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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