By Wale Mustapha
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Nigerian striker Victor Boniface will not be returning to action anytime soon following a relapse in his injury.
The Super Eagles forward has been sidelined for three weeks after sustaining an injury during Bundesliga action.
Boniface was initially expected to resume training by January 2nd, but the latest development means he will remain on the sidelines for a little longer.
A disappointed Alonso confirmed that Boniface will miss Leverkusen’s crucial Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund, expressing his frustration over the forward’s unavailability.
“We were hoping that he would be back in training on January 2nd. That’s a shame; normally, it’s not enough for next week,” Alonso said, as quoted by Bild, a German newspaper.
He added: “We have to be patient so that he gets back to his best shape and we get a better feel for the injury. The most important thing now is that we support him.”
Boniface’s absence is a significant blow for Leverkusen, as the 22-year-old has been a key player for the team this season, contributing heavily to their attacking efforts.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
