Tella is still recovering from a muscle injury and Boniface, who has made two appearances this season and is yet to score in the league, started on the bench as Leverkusen ended a three-match losing run.
Want our football coverage to show up first?
Add FootballInNigeria as a preferred source and our stories get a "Preferred" badge in your Google Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode results.
Super Eagles forwards Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface were not part of the action as Bayer Leverkusen beat 1. FC Köln 2-1 in the Bundesliga Rhine derby on Sunday, November 8. The win at the RheinEnergieStadion came in Matchday 9 in front of a sold-out crowd of about 50,000.
Tella remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a muscle injury. Boniface was named among the substitutes, and he has made only two appearances for Leverkusen this season, with his first league goal still to come.
Aleix GarcÃa gave Leverkusen the lead in the seventh minute with a superb direct free kick, which flew into the top corner. Some reports list the goal in the sixth minute, but it set the tone for a strong first half from the visitors.
German reports described the win as deserved for Carles MartÃnez’s side, who held the lead until late on. Köln pushed the game into a tense finish in front of their own fans.
Patrik Schick finally made it 2-0 in the 85th minute. Substitute Ibrahim Maza set him up, and the striker finished calmly to put Die Werkself in control.
Köln refused to give up and scored in stoppage time. Substitute Malek El Mala crossed from the right for his brother Said, who volleyed into the net in the 92nd minute, but there was no time left for an equaliser.
The result ended a three-match skid in all competitions for Leverkusen. It was also their sixth straight win over Köln in the head to head, and it lifted them into the top five of the Bundesliga table.
Fans who follow Nigerian players in Germany can check this Bet9ja promotion for Bundesliga fans before the next round of games.
A Super Eagles Angle
Neither Tella nor Boniface is in Eric Chelle’s 24-man squad for the Tanzania double-header, which takes place on Friday, November 13, in Uyo and Tuesday, November 17, in Dar es Salaam. Tella’s injury has kept him out of action, while Boniface has not had enough minutes to press his case.
Boniface has featured only twice for his club this season, so limited game time is a concern for the striker.
Readers who want to learn how betting offers work can read about Bet9ja promotion code basics while they follow Nigeria’s players in Europe.
Tella is still working his way back to full fitness, and Complete Sports did not report a return date for his muscle problem.
What It Means
For Leverkusen, the win was exactly what the team needed. It stopped a poor run of results and gave the squad confidence ahead of the international break.
For Nigerian fans, though, the story is about opportunity. Boniface and Tella both need regular minutes, and Chelle will be watching closely to see whether either of them can force his way back into the national team picture.
New Bet9ja users can look at Bet9ja’s YOHAIG weekend bonus as they follow the Bundesliga.
📌 Did You Know?
- Leverkusen have now won six straight meetings with Köln.
- Said El Mala’s stoppage-time goal was set up by his brother Malek.
- Aleix GarcÃa’s opening goal was a direct free kick from outside the box.
- Carles MartÃnez is Leverkusen’s head coach.
- The game was played in front of about 50,000 fans at the sold-out RheinEnergieStadion.
