Nathan Tella’s impressive pre-season run continued on Wednesday after the Nigerian winger scored in Bayer Leverkusen’s commanding 4-0 victory over Belgian outfit KRC Genk.
The Super Eagles star once again stole the spotlight with another clinical finish, while fellow Nigerians Victor Boniface and Rafiu Durosinmi also saw action in the friendly encounter.
The match formed part of Bayer Leverkusen’s preparations for the 2026/27 campaign under new manager Carles Martínez Novell, and Tella wasted no time in making.his mark once again.
Having found the net in Leverkusen’s emphatic 7-0 win over Sportfreunde Baumberg, the winger made it two pre-season goals with another assured display against Genk.
Tella started the game and remained on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, capping his performance with Leverkusen’s second goal in the 42nd minute after Jeanuël Belocian had given the Bundesliga side an early advantage.
Afonso Moreira added a third shortly after the interval before Christian Kofane completed the rout with Leverkusen’s fourth goal just minutes later.
The latest strike further strengthens Tella’s bid for a more prominent role next season as Martínez Novell continues to evaluate his options ahead of the new Bundesliga campaign.
Victor Boniface started the match on the bench and entered the contest after the hour mark, replacing goalscorer Afonso Moreira.
Although the Nigerian striker was unable to get on the scoresheet, he looked sharp in patches and continued his gradual return to full match fitness after injury setbacks limited his involvement last season.
For Genk, Rafiu Durosinmi made his first appearance since joining the Belgian club from Pisa last week.
The Nigerian forward was handed a starting berth but found opportunities difficult to come by against a disciplined Leverkusen defence.
Despite the disappointing result, the outing offered valuable minutes for Durosinmi as he continues to settle into his new surroundings.