The African Cup of Nations is approaching, a competition that particularly affects the best European clubs full of African players. From mid-January to mid-February (January 13 – February 11), numerous stars will leave their clubs and join the most competitive teams. This has been a central topic in the German media for several days, especially since the Bundesliga finally got a proper title race, and now it is precisely the departure of the players to the mentioned tournament that could have a crucial effect on this thrilling Bundesliga campaign.Leader Bayer Leverkusen will be by far the most hurt. Their closest follower, Bayern Munich, will also have serious problems (especially since the Asian Championship is being played at the same time), however, the Bavarians have already announced that they will react during January and bring at least two or three players, while the Pharmacists will try to fill in the void from the existing roster.It is expected that Bayer will be without three starters and two other players whom Xabi Alonso regularly gives a chance during January and February.The bunch consists out of the first striker and the best scorer of the team – Victor Boniface (Nigeria), then two of the three standard central defenders – Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso) and Odilon Kossounou (Ivory Coast), i.e. the highly paid Nathan Tella (24,000,000 euros), also Nigerian, and Moroccan Amine Adli.Boniface is in a bit of a goalscoring crisis, but with 13 goals and six assists in 19 games, he participated in the most goals of his team. Kossounou has not missed a single Bundesliga game, perhaps he is a key player for the organization of the attack from the back line, by crossing to the right flank, deep in the opponent’s half, he opens up space for the fast-footed Jeremie Frimpong and Jonas Hoffmann, which makes Bayer usually unstoppable on that right side. It seems his absence will be impossible to make up for because Xabi does not have a player of that profile on the bench…Edmond Tapsoba is a left sweeper, important above all for the aerial portion of defence, but he is also good in a technical sense. Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié will take his place.Tella is still adjusting, he doesn’t have a particular impact on the game, but whenever he entered he would make a difference in the rival’s third. He is determined by his exceptional speed, so Bayer lose nothing when, for example, the young Nigerian steps in instead of Frimpong.##EDITORS_CHOICE##The Moroccan Adli operates on the left side, he plays when Florian Wirtz rests and his performance is also noticed. In just 788 minutes on the field, he scored five and set up eight goals.It is enough to add up only his and Boniface’s goals and assists and see how much Leverkusen actually loses by them leaving for AFCON…When we talk about their replacements, they are sound, but they haven’t had enough minutes to try to bring the same intensity. Patrick Schick has just come out from injury, Adam Hložek is unlikely to show that miraculous talent announced in the shirt of Sparta Prague, while Robert Andrich will probably have to play outside the natural position of the rear midfielder and drop back to a sweeper.On top of all this, the last thing Leverkusen needed was yesterday’s news from England that Chelsea is planning a January move for Jonathan Tah, the third member of the standard back three. Allegedly, the Blues have taken a serious bite and see Thiago Silva’s successor in the German international of Ivorian roots.Let us remind you that Bayer is one of the European hits this fall. Last weekend, it was only the second time in the season that they did not win (a draw with Dortmund, 1-1), including the Europa League, but despite this, they kept the first place in the Bundesliga, as Bayern’s match with Union Berlin was postponed. If they win, the Bavarians will take first place due to the better goal difference.Bayer Leverkusen players that would be heading home for the AFCON :🇧🇫 Edmond Tapsoba🇨🇮 Odilon Kossounou🇳🇬 Victor Boniface🇳🇬 Nathan Tella🇲🇦 Amine Adl”It is unacceptable that the Africa Cup is being played in the middle of the season.💔 ‼️ Leverkusen chairman Fernando Carro pic.twitter.com/qxNaLxcNEx— Winning-Goal (@WinningG0al) December 6, 2023 How many games will Bayer have to play without five important players?If we assume that Nigeria, Morocco and Ivory Coast will go to the very end (semi-finals, final) of AFCON, Xabi Alonso will not be able to count on Boniface, Kossounou and Adli in the big derby against Bayern! And that could be the biggest blow for the Pharmacists by far.That clash with the Bavarians is scheduled for February 10, and the African Cup of Nations showpiece is set for the 11th. The match for the third place is scheduled for the 10th, so even entering the semi-finals for the mentioned nations means the impossibility of Bayer being complete for the duel with the champion.Only the eventual elimination of Nigeria, Morocco and Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals (February 2 and 3) gives some hope that Bayer’s trio could be back before the derby…In addition to that match with Bayern, Leverkusen will be severely weakened in another derby – against RB Leipzig (January 20), that is, in clashes with Borussia Mönchengladbach, Darmstadt and Augsburg.If Bayer Leverkusen manage somehow to push through the most difficult period of the season and remain on the top, or at least equal in points with Bayern, we believe that the last doubt that Xabi Alonso’s company has a chance to reach the throne – the first title in the club’s history – will disappear.##NAJAVA_MECA_7722018##In the same period (mid-January – mid-February), Bayern will most likely be without three players, but far less important than Bayer. The three are Noussair Mazraoui, Kim Min-jae and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. In the current situation, with a roster full of injuries, that would be a serious blow. But if we take into account that Bayern will certainly be active in the market and will bring what they need – clearly, their handicap cannot be compared to Lever’s.Strengthened like that – the Bavarians will very likely become elusive for competitors. Of course, all under the assumption that Tuchel’s ideas finally bear fruit and that Bayern fully emerges into his style.From the other Bundesliga teams, a big blow awaits Stuttgart, who will be without their best players, Serhou Guirassy and Silas Wamangituka, and an important player from the back line – Japanese defender Ito.LEVERKUSEN’S LEAGUE FIXTURES DURING AFCON (mid-January – mid-February)January 13: Augsburg (A)January 20: RB Leipzig (A)January 27: Mönchengladbach (H)February 3: Darmstadt (A)February 10: Bayer Munich (H)BAYERN’S LEAGUE FIXTURES DURING AFCON (mid-January – mid-February)January 12: Hoffenheim (H)January 21: Werder Bremen (H)January 24: Union Berlin (H)January 27: Augsburg (A)February 3: Mönchengladbach (H)February 10: Bayer Leverkusen (A)As you can see, Bayern have a tighter schedule than Leverkusen, as the postponed match with Union was inserted between January 21 and 27, but also, it seems, much easier opponents. At the same time, out of six matches, four games are at home. On the other hand, Lever’s three out of five games are away, including that derby against Leipzig.Kicker wrote yesterday about speculations that Bayer Leverkusen will try to convince at least one of the three starters to turn down an invitation to the national team, however, sports director Simon Rolfes spoke up and denied those claims.”Whoever is invited will go to the African Cup of Nations,” said Rolfes. “We have no intention of preventing anyone from playing for their country. It would be a lack of respect for that country and for the player himself. After all, no Bundesliga team would certainly come up with the idea of banning one of the German national team players from responding to the invitation.” underlined Rolfes and put an end to these speculations.The title is for the taking; they could be left without it due to everything, but Leverkusen decided to be dignified and stick to the basic football postulates.Well, maybe it will pay out to them in the end. Maybe, all things considered, we get the best story of the year…
