Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has expressed apprehensions regarding the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
Alonso, concerned about the potential absence of five players during this period, acknowledged the reality of losing key contributors to national team duties.
“It is a concern for January and February, perhaps not having five players. It is a reality. We have to accept that,” Alonso said on Transfermarkt.
The affected players include Nigerian duo Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella, as well as three African players from Alonso’s Leverkusen side—Amine Adli from Morocco, Edmond Tapsoba from Burkina Faso, and Odilon Kossounou from Ivory Coast.
Tella, born in London to Nigerian parents, has committed to representing the Super Eagles, adding to the challenge Leverkusen might face during the AFCON finals. Alonso emphasized the need to accept this situation, recognizing the impact it could have on the team dynamics.
