Young Cameroonian forward Christian Kofane distinguished himself in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 between Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal. Starting in the lineup by coach Kasper Hjulmand, the 19-year-old justified the confidence placed in him.
Kofane, who also started in the Bundesliga match against Freiburg the previous weekend, was once again chosen to lead his team's attack against the Premier League leaders. The Cameroonian international is still looking for his second goal in the competition.
Facing an Arsenal defense led by Declan Rice and William Saliba, Christian Kofane was very active. The forward stood out for his commitment in duels and his ability to retain the ball, putting constant pressure on the London defense. Despite a goalless first half, Robert Andrich opened the scoring for Bayer Leverkusen in the 46th minute. Arsenal equalized in the 89th minute with a penalty converted by Kai Havertz, sealing the final score at 1-1.
For the first time in this edition of the Champions League, Christian Kofane played a full match. He touched the ball 33 times and attempted two shots, with a passing accuracy of 94%. His performance earned him an average rating of 7, one of the highest in the match. Kofane said he was proud of his team's performance against one of the best teams in the world.
In other news, Cameroonian central defender Marvin Elimbi, who plays for Gil Vicente in Portugal, is reportedly on the radar of SC Braga. The Portuguese club is said to be interested in his profile and could try to recruit him during the next summer transfer window.
Elimbi, 23, has established himself as a regular starter in Gil Vicente's defense since the start of the 2025/26 season. His solid performances have not gone unnoticed by Braga's scouts, who appreciate his consistency and impact in the Portuguese league. Under contract with Gil Vicente until June 2028, Elimbi's value is estimated at 2.5 million euros by Transfermarkt.
The return match between Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen is scheduled for March 17.
