Exclusive: Ex-Nigerian Forward Calls For More Game Time For Tella, Defends Boniface Injury Management

Former Super Eagles forward Patrick Pascal and Royale Antwerp have backed Nathan Tella to succeed at Bayer Leverkusen and with the Nigerian national team, provided he remains patient and takes his opportunities.

Tella’s Journey to Bayer Leverkusen

The 24-year-old forward left English Premier League side Southampton for Leverkusen after an impressive loan spell at Burnley, where he recorded 22 goal contributions in the Championship.

His performances caught Leverkusen’s attention last summer, prompting the Bundesliga club to invest €23 million in him. However, consistent playing time has been elusive for Tella since his arrival.

Limited Opportunities at Bayer Leverkusen

In his debut season, Tella made 39 appearances across all competitions for Leverkusen, though most were as a substitute. Despite this, he managed 11 goal involvements, contributing to Leverkusen’s Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal victories and their Europa League second-place finish.

However, stiff competition from players like Victor Boniface, Patrick Schick, Amine Adli, and Florian Wirtz has limited his chances. This season, his playing time has decreased further, with appearances in only nine of 14 Bundesliga games, mostly as a substitute.

Since the 2024-2025 season began, Tella has started six of 22 matches for the Bundesliga champions, including Sunday’s win at St. Pauli, where he had a goal disallowed.

Tella recently expressed frustration over his limited opportunities after scoring his first goal of the season in a DFB-Pokal victory against Bayern Munich.

Speaking to SportsBoom.co.za, Pascal praised Tella’s performance but urged patience. "It was an important and well-taken goal for him and the club against Bayern Munich in the German Cup," Pascal said.

"Bayern are a tough team to face, and beating them increases your chances of progressing further in the competition. Tella is a talented player, but there are other strikers ahead of him who are just as capable. He needs to keep working hard and be ready to seize any opportunities that come his way," Pascal added.

Struggles with the Super Eagles

Tella’s struggles at the club level have also affected his role in the Nigerian national team. After his debut for Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe in November 2023, he was excluded from Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad, where the team finished as runners-up.

Although he was called up for friendlies against Ghana and Mali in March, Tella remained an unused substitute. By June, he was dropped entirely from the World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Pascal emphasized the need for consistent club performances to regain a spot in the national team."Breaking into the national team is always a challenge because there is a wealth of talent, and not everyone can play at the same time. Players like Tella must wait for their chance and make the most of it when it arrives," he said.

Criticism of Fringe Players

Pascal also stated that the inconsistent performances of fringe players in the national team hasn't helped Tella, citing Nigeria’s disappointing home defeat to Rwanda under Coach Austin Eguavoen.

"Eguavoen took a risk by fielding some fringe players in the last game against Rwanda. The decision backfired, drawing heavy criticism from both the media and fans," Pascal noted.

"Nigerians are not known for their patience. They expect the team to win every game, so any new player must perform at the same level as the regular starters. Otherwise, the fans will be vocal, and the coach will face pressure."

A Turning Point for Tella?

Despite Tella’s struggles, Pascal believes his recent goal could mark a turning point. "Tella is a talented player. He needs to keep working hard and stay ready to capitalize on any opportunities that come his way," Pascal concluded.

Defending Nigeria’s Handling of Victor Boniface

Pascal also addressed Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso’s criticism of Nigeria’s handling of Victor Boniface’s injury during the November international break.

Boniface, 23, suffered a hamstring injury during Nigeria’s final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda, sidelining him for seven matches and possibly the rest of the year. Alonso argued Boniface should not have continued playing after the injury.

Pascal defended Nigeria’s technical staff, asserting they acted professionally. "Clubs understandably prioritize their players' fitness and availability for team duties. If they had their way, some might discourage players from honoring international call-ups.

"For this reason, I disagree with Coach Xabi Alonso’s comments. Injuries can happen anywhere, at any time. Atalanta and Nottingham Forest recalled Ademola Lookman and Ola Aina from international duty despite knowing their importance.

"Because we had already qualified, we released them," Pascal concluded.