Nathan Tella, the Nigerian winger who won the Bundesliga and German Cup with Bayer Leverkusen in his first season, has reaffirmed his commitment to the Super Eagles despite turning down an invitation to join the team for the recent World Cup qualifiers, according to OwnGoalNigeria.
Tella's decision to decline the invitation had sparked speculation about a possible rift with former coach Finidi George, who had called him up for friendly games against Ghana and Mali but did not give him any playing time. However, a source close to the player has revealed that Tella's absence was due to a pressing family issue that required his attention.
The source emphasized that Tella had no issues with Finidi George and is fully committed to representing Nigeria in the future. "Tella had no issues with Finidi before his exit as coach. It was a pressing family issue that kept him away from the team, and I can tell you that he will be available when next he is called up to the team," the source told (link unavailable)
Tella's commitment to the Super Eagles is a boost for the team, which is looking to rebuild after a disappointing start to their World Cup qualifying campaign. The 24-year-old winger is considered one of the top Nigerian players in Europe, and his skills and experience will be valuable assets to the team as they look to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.