Bayer Leverkusen winger Nathan Tella was handed a shock start on his international debut for Nigeria in the 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Rwanda, but only lasted 45 minutes.
Tella started the game really well by taking on his marker with runs from the right in the opening 15 minutes of the game. He had a moment where he left three players of Zimbabwe for dead with a strong run.
It was shocking to many when he didn’t return after the break with goal scorer for Nigeria Kelechi Iheanacho replacing him. We sought to know why the 24 year old was replaced despite his strong start to the game.
” He couldn’t run after 20 minutes. The weather, the pitch and the fatigue of the conditions under which we traveled got to him. Maybe he shouldn’t have started or probably not in an away game on a rubber pitch but it’s the decision of the coach”, a player told OwnGoalNigeria.com just before he departed Nigeria for his base yesterday.
” In training especially in Nigeria, Tella was very good and many of us thought he will play against Lesotho if not from the start then maybe from the bench but that didn’t happen. He will be a huge player for us in the future”, he rounded up saying.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
