WCQ: Reason Bayer Leverkusen forward excused himself from Finidi George's Super Eagles

In another big blow for new Nigeria head coach Finidi George, versatile Bayer Leverkusen star Nathan Tella has withdrawn from the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches due to family reasons.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that Tella has been excused from the national team camp, forcing Finidi to call up Ibrahim Olawoyin of Turkish club Caykur Rizespor as his replacement.

This is the latest setback for Finidi, who had already been forced to replace star striker Victor Osimhen with Kenneth Igboko from Nigerian league leaders Rangers International.

Tella's withdrawal is a significant blow, with the 24-year-old having enjoyed an impressive debut season at Bayer Leverkusen. 

The versatile midfielder featured 36 times for the Bundesliga champions, helping them secure an unprecedented domestic double without defeat.

In his first year with Leverkusen, Tella scored 6 goals and provided 3 assists, cementing his status as an important member of the squad. 

His absence will be felt as Nigeria looks to navigate a tricky World Cup qualifying campaign under new coach Finidi.

The NFF has moved quickly to draft Olawoyin as Tella's replacement, with the Caykur Rizespor midfielder earning the call-up on the back of an impressive season in the Turkish Super Lig.

Finidi and the Super Eagles will be hoping Olawoyin can hit the ground running and help fill the void left by Tella's withdrawal. 

Nigeria face a crucial set of qualifiers in the coming weeks as they aim to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup after a shaky start.