Bayer Leverkusen attacker Nathan Tella has opted out of Nigeria's 23-man squad selected to play their World Cup 2026 qualifying games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe on March 21 and 25 respectively.

Tella was an unused substitute in Bayer Leverkusen’s UEFA Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday and it has now been established that he is nursing an injury.

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The 25-year-old forward has not told the Nigeria Football Federation about his unavailability and Gent star Jordan Torunarigha has been summonedto replace him.

Nigeria, who are 5th in Group C with 3 points from 4 games, will visit Amavubi at Amahoro Stadium on Friday, March 21, before hosting Zimbabwe four days later at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on March 25.