Bayer Leverkusen forward Nathan Tella has withdrawn from Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe with Gent defender Jordan Torunarigha called up to replace him.
The replacement comes two days after the release of the final 23-man squad for coach Eric Chelle’s first assignments in charge of the Super Eagles.
‘Camp update: Jordan Torunarigha has been called to replace injured Nathan Tella. We wish Nathan a quick recovery’, the Super Eagles posted via X.
Tella was an unused substitute during Bayer Leverkusen’s UEFA Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday and it has now been confirmed that the 25-year-old is nursing an injury.
It’s the second time the Leverkusen forward will be ruled out of national team assignments after being called up. He made his debut and only cap for Nigeria so far during the first leg of the clash against Zimbabwe on Sunday, 19 November 2023.
His replacement, Torunarigha has also been capped once – during an international friendly against Mozambique in October 2023.
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He was included in the initial 39-man provisional list but was initially overlooked in the final squad as Chelle picked seven defenders.
Torunarigha’s inclusion takes the number of defenders available for selection to eight with Chelle now having four centre-back options.
This season, the 27-year-old has played 22 times for Gent in the Belgium top flight with one assist to his credit.
Nigeria will face Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, 21 March before returning to the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo to face Zimbabwe on Tuesday, 25 March, in a bid to revive their World Cup qualification bid.
After four matches, the three-time African champions sit in fifth place with just three points, four points behind leaders Rwanda, with six games left to play in the qualifying series.
Nigeria risk missing out on the 2026 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, following a disappointing start to their qualifying campaign but wins in the two games are expected to reignite their qualification hopes.
