Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has finally given up on allowing the five African players in the team represent their country at next year Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.
Leverkusen who are leading the German Bundesliga will be without Victor Boniface, Odilon Kossounou, Edmond Tapsoba, Amine Adli and Nathan Tella for at least a month during the tournament.
Their absence for that long could derail the ambition of the club to end a 30 year long wait for a silverware. They have never won the German Bundesliga and now more than ever they are in pole position to challenge for it.
Club CEO Fernando Carro, desperate for a trophy, told German media it was “unacceptable” that the AFCON was taking place in January, suggesting that the club could seek legal redress against releasing the players for the tournament.
However in a remarkable twist, the sporting director is open to the idea of the players representing their country at the tournament,.
“The thing with the African Cup is for sure it is not ideal, but we would love to have the African Cup in [the European] summer, at the summer break between the seasons,” Rolfes told DW.
“I know that the players are proud to play for their country; I know that from my playing time, it was the same. And we are happy and proud that we have so many national team players representing their countries.
“We have to deal with this. We have a really good squad, and I think we can handle this situation, but it is not ideal. But in life, there are some situations where you have to deal with this, and we will do.
He rounded up his take with a warning that unless the tournament is moved back to the summer like it was in 2019 in Egypt teams in Europe won’t be comfortable signing African players.
“You cannot have 15 African players in your squad, and then in January, you do not have any players anymore,” he said.
Ade Emmanuel