Victor Boniface has been ruled out of the upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations tournament due to injury.
Boniface sustained a muscular injury in training in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and he missed the Super Eagles' 2-0 defeat to Guinea in a friendly played on January 8, 2024.
Victor Boniface also didn't play any part in Nigeria's 12-0 thumping victory over Abu Dhabi-based club Al Gharib due to injury.
His absence from the 2023 AFCON is a major blow for Nigeria, who are aiming to win their 4th Africa Cup of Nations title in Cote d'Ivoire.
Boniface joins a star list of important players, who will miss out on the competition due to injury or are battling their way towards recovery.
Leicester City's duo Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho are all dealing with injuries, with the former ruled out of the AFCON, while the latter is still sweating over his fitness.
Victor Boniface has been magnificent this campaign, scoring goals with reckless abandon and propelling Bayern Leverkusen to the summit of the German Bundesliga.
Xabi Alonso's side are on a 25-game unbeaten run and Boniface has played an important role in the alluring run.
The 23-year-old is one of the most in-form players this season in Europe, having scored 16 goals and provided 8 assists in 23 appearances across all competitions.
The Nigerian joined Bayern Leverkusen from Union Saint-Gilloise on July 22, 2023, for a fee of €20.5 million.
Reports indicate that Victor Boniface is expected to be unavailable for action for six weeks and he will return to Bayer Leverkusen to continue his recovery from injury.
Victor Boniface made his debut for Nigeria on September 10, 2023, in a 6-0 victory for the Super Eagles over São Tomé and Príncipe.
He has made 5 appearances for the 3-time African Cup of Nations champions, scoring 1 goal and providing 1 assist in all competitions.
Boniface, who appeared to be despondent by the injury, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share how he had missed out on some tournaments, days before it began.
Victor Boniface wrote: “U20 nations cup got injured 7 days before the nations cup.
“Super eagles got injured 6 days before Nations Cup.
“Na Only GOD Knows why”.
Boniface also sent out his best wishes to the Super Eagles at the 2023 AFCON, as they attempt to gladden the hearts of Nigerians.
He wrote: “Good luck guys…..
Wish you guys all the best at AFCON".
Victor Boniface was expected to partner with Victor Osimhen in attack for Nigeria and the pair were expected to be a semblance of the Brown Ideye and Emmanuel Emenike partnership that led the country to the AFCON crown in 2013.
Boniface sustained a muscular injury in training in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and he missed the Super Eagles' 2-0 defeat to Guinea in a friendly played on January 8, 2024.
Victor Boniface also didn't play any part in Nigeria's 12-0 thumping victory over Abu Dhabi-based club Al Gharib due to injury.
His absence from the 2023 AFCON is a major blow for Nigeria, who are aiming to win their 4th Africa Cup of Nations title in Cote d'Ivoire.
Boniface joins a star list of important players, who will miss out on the competition due to injury or are battling their way towards recovery.
Leicester City's duo Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho are all dealing with injuries, with the former ruled out of the AFCON, while the latter is still sweating over his fitness.
Victor Boniface has been magnificent this campaign, scoring goals with reckless abandon and propelling Bayern Leverkusen to the summit of the German Bundesliga.
Xabi Alonso's side are on a 25-game unbeaten run and Boniface has played an important role in the alluring run.
The 23-year-old is one of the most in-form players this season in Europe, having scored 16 goals and provided 8 assists in 23 appearances across all competitions.
The Nigerian joined Bayern Leverkusen from Union Saint-Gilloise on July 22, 2023, for a fee of €20.5 million.
Reports indicate that Victor Boniface is expected to be unavailable for action for six weeks and he will return to Bayer Leverkusen to continue his recovery from injury.
Victor Boniface made his debut for Nigeria on September 10, 2023, in a 6-0 victory for the Super Eagles over São Tomé and Príncipe.
He has made 5 appearances for the 3-time African Cup of Nations champions, scoring 1 goal and providing 1 assist in all competitions.
Boniface, who appeared to be despondent by the injury, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share how he had missed out on some tournaments, days before it began.
Victor Boniface wrote: “U20 nations cup got injured 7 days before the nations cup.
“Super eagles got injured 6 days before Nations Cup.
“Na Only GOD Knows why”.
Boniface also sent out his best wishes to the Super Eagles at the 2023 AFCON, as they attempt to gladden the hearts of Nigerians.
He wrote: “Good luck guys…..
Wish you guys all the best at AFCON".
Victor Boniface was expected to partner with Victor Osimhen in attack for Nigeria and the pair were expected to be a semblance of the Brown Ideye and Emmanuel Emenike partnership that led the country to the AFCON crown in 2013.