Wahala dey for FC Köln as dem don sideline one of their midfielders, Denis Huseinbasic. For their match wey dem go play against FC St. Pauli on Friday, the 24-year-old player no dey inside the squad at all. Coach René Wagner bin dey travel go Hamburg with his team on Thursday afternoon, but Huseinbasic no follow them. This one na the second time for this season wey dem no include am for match day.
This decision come surprise many people because just last match against Frankfurt, Huseinbasic bin dey start for the team. But people dey talk say maybe the coach no too like how the midfielder play for that game. True true, this season, Huseinbasic no get plenty playing time. He don start nine matches, come enter from bench eight times, and six times dem no even put am for squad. Injury also affect am small.
The man wey don play seven times for Bosnia national team still get contract with Köln until 2027. But as things dey now, nobody sure say the club go extend that contract. Some people dey yarn say maybe Köln go sell am this summer to make some money. Last summer, Portuguese club Braga bin show interest for am, and Huseinbasic himself talk say the matter dey worry am. All this wahala fit be why e hard for am to settle for this season.
For the team generally, Coach Wagner dey face small problem because almost all players dey available. Only two players, Timo Hübers and Luca Kilian, no dey fit because of long injury. So the coach get to make hard choices for who go play. “I go take some decisions wey no go sweet everybody,” Wagner talk. For the St. Pauli match, e don affect experienced players like Florian Kainz and Dominique Heintz. Joel Schmied wey bin dey recover from injury don come back, but Huseinbasic no make the list.
Meanwhile, for the match against St. Pauli, referee go be Matthias Jöllenbeck. This referee no be stranger to Köln. The last time wey e referee their match, na when dem beat Eintracht Braunschweig 5-0. But for that game, one controversial thing happen. For corner kick, Leart Pacarada touch the ball, then Linton Maina carry am again put for corner spot before Timo Hübers score. Many people talk say na handball, but Jöllenbeck no blow whistle. Pacarada later talk say “I no know wetin carry me that day.” Braunschweig players complain, but referee say e no see am.
Jöllenbeck record with Köln dey balanced. For the twelve matches wey e don referee for them, Köln win four, draw four, and lose four. One painful memory na when Mainz beat Köln 5-0 and Luca Kilian collect red card. Another time, for Mainz vs Bochum match wey Jöllenbeck referee, Bochum lose and that one push Köln go 17th position that season. For Stuttgart match, e give penalty against Köln after VAR check say goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe touch striker Ermedin Demirovic.
Fans wey wan watch the Köln vs St. Pauli match fit catch am on Sportschau program. The popular German sports show go focus on Bundesliga match day 30. Dem go show the game on ARD TV on Friday, 17 April 2026 by 23:10. The program go last 45 minutes. If you no get TV, you fit watch live stream for ARD Mediathek or Joyn platform for free. You fit use your phone, tablet or smart TV watch am.
Sportschau no dey show only Bundesliga matches. Dem go also talk about 2. Liga games like Holstein Kiel vs 1. FC Kaiserslautern and SV Elversberg vs Karlsruher SC. If you miss the live show, you fit go check ARD Mediathek later to watch am, but depend on license rights how long dem go keep am there.
As for Köln, dem don already confirm say two players go leave this summer. More fit follow. With Huseinbasic no dey for squad again, and coach dey make hard selections, the future for some players for the club no too bright. The team dey fight to remain for Bundesliga, and every match dey important. Win against St. Pauli go help their chances well well.
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