The recently concluded international break saw the Super Eagles of Nigeria play two friendly games under the guide of interim head coach of the team Finidi George, following the departure of head coach Jose Peseiro upon the expiration of his contract in February.
Nigeria defeated Ghana 2-1 before losing 0-2 to Mali in their second game of the break. The games were meant to try out players who were not part of the team for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as it is the only window available before the resumption of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
A total of 22 players were available for the game, and a window of making seven substitutions per game, but despite that Finidi made use of only two substitutes in the game against Mali.
His action meant four players in Nathan Tella, Olorunleke Ojo, Alhassan Yusuf, Sadiq Umar and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru didn’t get a minute of action in both games during their break. That act didn’t go down with the representative of Tella.
The 24 year old has been involved in the fantastic run of Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga where they are three games away from winning the league, and in the German Cup where they are through to the final. They are also in the quarter final of the Europa League.
Tella who has five goals and two assists this season has one cap for Nigeria, and was unhappy that he couldn’t add another during the international break for reasons that wasn’t communicated to him by the head coach.
” No reason was given to him (Tella) by the coach. Not even a word of encouragement after the disappointment. He arrived in the camp with his spirit really high but left felling unwanted. He probably has lost the chance of getting into the squad for the world cup qualifiers in June. He will however keep doing his best”, his representative told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
