Bayer 04 can still plan on having Christian Kofane available for the match in Leipzig. The forward, who has been called up by the Cameroonian federation for the Africa Cup of Nations, will remain in Leverkusen this week and will only join the national team after the Leipzig game.

Leverkusen head coach Kasper Hjulmand has been handed what can fairly be described as an early Christmas present, and it arrives at exactly the right time in the calendar.

While several Bundesliga clubs are already feeling the effects of the Africa Cup of Nations call ups, Bayer 04 have managed to keep one of their key attacking options for one more decisive fixture. Forward Christian Kofane, despite being named in Cameroon squad for the tournament in Morocco, did not travel immediately when the official player release period began on 15 December. Instead, he was still in Leverkusen on Tuesday, taking part in full training with the rest of the group.

The practical consequence is significant. After Leverkusen 2-0 win over 1. FC Köln, other AFCON bound players in the squad began leaving as expected. Edmond Tapsoba headed off to join Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza linked up with Algeria, and Eliesse Ben Seghir reported to Morocco. Under the rules, clubs must release players to their national teams from that Monday, which usually triggers a rapid reshuffle of match plans and rotation options. In Leverkusen case, however, Kofane remaining with the club makes it clear he will be available for Saturday marquee Bundesliga clash away to RB Leipzig, a match that could carry major implications both for momentum and the table.

For Hjulmand, that is not a minor detail. Leipzig away is the type of fixture where you want as much quality, pace, and depth as possible, not least because the game state can swing quickly. Having Kofane available gives Leverkusen an additional attacking profile, whether as a starter or as a high impact option from the bench. It also allows the coaching staff to keep their tactical flexibility. If the match demands a more direct threat in behind, an extra runner to stretch the back line, or a late push to chase a result, Kofane becomes a tool that many Bundesliga teams simply will not have this weekend because their internationals will already be gone.

The more interesting part of the story is how Leverkusen managed to keep him at all, given the timing. From the outside, it is an unusual situation. Kofane has been called up, the release period has started, and yet he is still training at the club. The explanation, according to the reporting around the case, lies less in paperwork and more in relationships and leverage within Cameroonian football.

Kofane agent, Eric Depolo, is said to have a very good relationship with Cameroon football federation president Samuel Eto'o. That bond has been visible before, particularly during the recent conflict that shook the national team setup. Cameroon football has been dominated by internal power struggles, and in the dispute between the federation leadership, with Eto'o as the central figure, and the recently dismissed national team coach Marc Brys, Kofane reportedly became a kind of bargaining chip, pulled into the centre of tensions that were not primarily sporting. In that context, the idea that a player release can be handled with more flexibility, especially if it suits influential parties, becomes more plausible.

One specific meeting is highlighted as a turning point in the background story. Depolo and Eto'o met in the VIP area of the BayArena around the Champions League match between Bayer 04 and Paris Saint-Germain in October, a match Leverkusen lost heavily 2-7. A table was reportedly reserved for the two, suggesting it was not a casual encounter but a planned conversation. The key detail is what happened around that meeting. Leverkusen officials are believed to have used that opportunity to build or strengthen a positive working relationship with Eto'o, effectively ensuring lines of communication stayed open and constructive. In modern football, where player availability is shaped as much by politics and diplomacy as by regulations, that kind of relationship management can be a competitive advantage.

Now, Leverkusen are seeing the benefit in concrete sporting terms. Kofane will only travel to Morocco after the Leipzig match, meaning he will join Cameroon almost a full week later than would typically be required by the release rules. From Leverkusen point of view, it is a perfect outcome: they get their attacker for the toughest remaining club match before the AFCON window fully bites, and Cameroon still get the player in time for the competition.

This delay is also facilitated by Cameroon tournament schedule. Unlike some national teams who play early group matches, Cameroon do not begin their AFCON campaign until Christmas Eve, Wednesday next week, when they face Gabon. That later start creates a logistical window where the federation can afford to be flexible without significantly compromising preparation, at least in theory. The tournament itself runs from 21 December to 18 January, so Cameroon still have time to complete their camp work and tactical planning before the first match, even if Kofane arrives later than most.

From a coaching standpoint, the decision carries both upside and risk, depending on perspective. Leverkusen gain short term strength for Leipzig, but it also means Kofane arrives with Cameroon closer to matchday, potentially with less time to integrate into final tactical sessions. That may not matter if he is already familiar with the group and his role is clearly defined, but it is still a trade off: club benefit now, national team benefit later.

For Leverkusen, the wider context is that AFCON absences often force clubs into uncomfortable compromises. Losing multiple starters at the same time can disrupt pressing triggers, set piece structure, and even leadership dynamics. Hjulmand has already seen three departures, and those players cannot be replaced like for like overnight. Keeping Kofane for one more match does not solve everything, but it does soften the blow and gives the squad a stronger chance to handle Leipzig intensity and athleticism.

Leipzig, meanwhile, will view this as another reason to expect a full strength Leverkusen attacking threat. They cannot assume that Leverkusen will arrive weakened or short of options. Instead, they have to prepare for a Leverkusen side that can still rotate in forward areas and maintain pressure late in the game.

In summary, Kofane staying in Leverkusen is not simply a scheduling curiosity. It is a reminder that international windows are often negotiated realities rather than rigid processes. In this case, a combination of timing, federation politics, and relationship building appears to have created an outcome that strongly favours Bayer 04. Hjulmand gets his forward for a pivotal league fixture, and Cameroon still get him in time for their delayed AFCON start. For a coach balancing performance and availability in the busiest period of the season, that is about as close as football gets to an early Christmas present.