“They will go” – Leverkusen’s Sporting Director set to allow African players travel for the AFCON tournament

Bayer 04 Leverkusen secured a point at home against Borussia Dortmund, all thanks to a late strike from Victor Boniface after Julian Ryerson scored the opener.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s Sports Managing director, Simon Rolfes, has explained that the German club will not stand in the way of the players called up for the AFCON tournament next year January, Soccernet.ng reports.

This comes as a response to the outrage from the club’s CEO, Fernando Carro, as he voiced his displeasure over the timing and schedule of the African Cup of Nations tournament, claiming he could go to court to file a dispute over the issue.

Die Werkself currently houses five Africans including Nigerian duo – Nathan Tella and Victor Okoh Boniface. Odillon Koussonou (Ivory Coast), Edmond Tapsoba(Burkina Faso), and Amine Adli (Morrocco) complete the list.

In new information revealed by Kicker.de, Leverkusen will release these players for the AFCON tournament that will hold in Ivory Coast from 13th January to 11th February, 2024.

Simon Rolfes, 41, donned the Die Schwarzroten jersey 377 times before retiring to pick up the Sporting director role, and aired his opinion on the situation, claiming the club doesn’t want to be disrespectful to the players involved, and the nations they’ll be representing.

“When they are called up, they also go,” Rolfes told Kicker.de, concerning the five African players that will be potentially representing their country at the tournament next year.

Xabi Alonso’s men are currently top of the league after thirteen matchdays, winning eleven and drawing just two.