Afcon 2027: Injury rules Bayer Leverkusen star Nathan Tella out of Super Eagles return

Bayer Leverkusen forward Nathan Tella is set to miss Nigeria’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and international friendly against Russia as his long-awaited return to the Super Eagles remains delayed by injury.

Tella is not expected to feature when Nigeria face Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in their upcoming AFCON qualifying fixtures before taking on Russia in an international friendly in October.

The 27-year-old has been absent from the Super Eagles since May 31, 2025, when he featured against Jamaica in the Unity Cup final.

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle had previously indicated during the 2026 Unity Cup that Tella was expected to be included in his plans, but fitness concerns eventually prevented his selection.

The former Burnley and Southampton forward has endured a difficult period with injuries. He missed 28 competitive matches for Bayer Leverkusen last season and is currently recovering from a back injury.

Leverkusen head coach Carles Martínez disclosed ahead of the club’s 2-2 Bundesliga draw away to Augsburg that Tella could require up to three weeks to make a full recovery.

The latest setback is another blow to Tella’s hopes of returning to the Super Eagles after more than a year away from the national team.

Despite his absence, Tella has already made his first appearance of the new season for Leverkusen. He came off the bench and scored the third goal in the German club’s 4-0 DFB-Pokal victory over SV Wehen Wiesbaden.

Tella, who was born in England, opted to represent Nigeria at senior international level and became permanently tied to the Super Eagles after appearing in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe in November 2023.

His return to international football has since been interrupted by fitness problems, with the latest back injury expected to keep him out of Chelle’s immediate plans.

Nigeria are preparing for a busy international period, with AFCON qualifying fixtures against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau followed by the October friendly against Russia.

The Russia encounter will give Chelle another opportunity to assess his squad ahead of future competitive assignments, but Tella is expected to remain unavailable as he continues his recovery.

For the Leverkusen forward, the immediate priority will be to regain full fitness and establish consistency at club level before another opportunity to return to the Super Eagles emerges.