![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/towncryyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/17167251979531.jpg?resize=828%2C552&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHowever, with the prospect of a domestic double on the line — Bayer looking to become only the fifth\u00a0Germ\u00e1n\u00a0club in the Bundesliga era to achieve the feat — these unlikely champions overcame the heartbreak with a 1-0 victory,\u00a0Granit Xhaka\u00a0scoring the only goal of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Odion Kossounou, whose lack of composure nearly cost the\u00a0Ivory Coast\u00a0so dearly in their\u00a0Africa Cup of Nations\u00a0quarterfinal against\u00a0Mali, when he was shown an early red card, was again dismissed late in the first half following two bookable offences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was the last thing the tired legs of Leverkusen needed, particularly with Kossounou introduced to the lineup after missing the Europa League final, but it was not enough to deny them the second German Cup of their 119-year history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Burkina Faso\u00a0centreback\u00a0Edmond Tapsoba\u00a0featured throughout for Leverkusen, while\u00a0Morocco’s\u00a0Amine Adli\u00a0was introduced at the break and Tella made a late cameo as Alonso’s side sought to see out the contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Two in my first season,” Boniface wrote on social media after the final, referring to the two trophies won this campaign. “Not bad.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having celebrated Leverkusen’s league triumph by dancing to Ghanaian hit Kolom, penned by Buk Bak, alongside teammate\u00a0Jeremie Frimpong, Tella was also spotted leading the celebrations after the\u00a0DFB Pokal\u00a0triumph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This time, it was Nigerian beats, with the ex-Arsenal\u00a0starlet dancing to Burna Boy song Wetin Man Do Go along with Boniface and Frimpong at the conclusion of their victory over Kaiserslautern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Tella and Boniface are set to be in action for\u00a0Nigeria\u00a0during the international break as the West African giants take on\u00a0South Africa\u00a0and Benin in a pair of World Cup qualifiers. After that, attention may well turn to the transfer market for Leverkusen’s African stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boniface, who netted 14 league goals during his campaign Bundesliga campaign, when he was named Rookie of the Season, has been linked with the likes of\u00a0Chelsea\u00a0and\u00a0Paris Saint-Germain, while centreback Kossounou has been named as a for both\u00a0Manchester United\u00a0and\u00a0Liverpool\u00a0among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Until then, they can look back with pride on an unforgettable campaign, and while European success – and a full Invincible season – ultimately evaded them, there’s no doubt that this Leverkusen team have achieved something truly remarkable this term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Originally published at ESPN<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Ed Dove – ESPN Nathan Tella\u00a0and\u00a0Victor Boniface\u00a0concluded a sensational season with German Cup glory, as\u00a0Bayer Leverkusen\u00a0completed the domestic double, going some way to making up for their\u00a0UEFA Europa League\u00a0final failure against\u00a0Ademola Lookman-inspired\u00a0Atalanta. Speaking of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8721,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5],"tags":[2892,2893,2894],"class_list":["post-8717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-boniface","tag-lookman","tag-uefa-europa-league-final"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/towncryyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/133165267_victorbonifacecelebratesleverkusentitlewin-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&ssl=1\")
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