By Milcah Tanimu
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has returned to Bayer 04 Leverkusen with an injury following his international duty with Nigeria. The 23-year-old forward featured in both of Nigeria’s recent matches, a loss to Rwanda and a draw with the Republic of Benin, during the international break.
Boniface, who has been in impressive form for Leverkusen, scoring six goals and providing one assist in ten Bundesliga appearances this season, missed training with his club on his return. Reports from Buli News indicate that the striker sustained a thigh injury during the international matches, and he could face an extended time on the sidelines, ranging from weeks to potentially three months.
Leverkusen has yet to issue an official statement on Boniface’s injury, but it is expected that head coach Xabi Alonso will address the issue in his pre-match press conference ahead of their upcoming home game against FC Heidenheim. If Boniface is unavailable, Czech striker Patrik Schick is expected to step into the starting lineup.
This injury adds to a history of fitness setbacks for the 6ft3in forward, who missed Nigeria’s AFCON 2023 campaign and a significant portion of Leverkusen’s season earlier this year due to an adductor injury in his right thigh. Leverkusen fans will be hoping that this latest injury is not a recurrence of that issue.
