Afcon 2023: Devastated Victor Boniface reacts after premature tournament ending injury

Victor Boniface has expressed disappointment over his premature departure from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Bayer Leverkusen star suffered a muscle-tendon injury at the Super Eagles training camp in Abu Dhabi and has been replaced by OGC Nice’s Terem Moffi.

Boniface’s absence presents a setback for the Super Eagles, with Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, Nottingham Forest attacker Taiwo Awoniyi, and maybe Leicester forward Kelechi Iheanacho, all ruled out of the tournament.

With 16 goals and eight assists in 23 appearances for Xabi Alonso’s side, Boniface has established himself as a key player to watch in this tournament.

The 23-year-old has been sidelined from his first AFCON tournament as the three-time AFCON winners Nigeria will play their opening Group A match on January 14 against Equatorial Guinea.

Reflecting on his exit, Boniface expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that he is heartbroken to miss the AFCON, mirroring his absence from the 2021 U20 Africa Cup of Nations.

“U20 Nations Cup got injured seven days before the Nations Cup. Super Eagles got injured six days before the Nations Cup. Only GOD Knows why,” he wrote on social media.