Tella in fitness race for DFB Pokal semis

Super Eagles forward Nathan Tella will have to undergo a late fitness test to be available for Bayern Leverkusen’s DFB Pokal semi-final game at Arminia Bielefeld on Tuesday (today).

Tella has been out of action for three weeks with a muscle injury that also ruled him out of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. He was replaced by Gent defender Jordan Torunarigha by coach Eric Chelle.

After missing their last two games, Tella is close to making his return but Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso will have to decide if he would be fit enough to face Arminia.

“Nathan [Tella feels] way better. We train now, but if there is no problem [during the session], he will be in the squad [against Bielefeld],” Alonso said, per Werkself.

A win for Bayer Leverkusen would seal their place in the final of the DFB Pokal for a second season in a row.

Tella enjoyed a successful debut campaign last term as Bayer won the cup title and their first Bundesliga title, having previously finished as runners-up on five occasions.

He has played 20 games this season in the Bundesliga scoring two goals plus two assists.

In the DFB Pokal, he has one goal and one assist in four games.

Abiodun Adewale

Abiodun, who reports Sports for PUNCH, covers different tiers of the Nigerian football league, the national teams, as well as cricket, in the last six years

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