“Give Boniface time” – Iloenyosi urges oatience from Nigeria fans amid goal drought

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former Nigerian defender Chikelue Iloenyosi has called on Super Eagles fans to be patient with Victor Boniface, who has been struggling to score goals for the national team despite his impressive form for Bayer Leverkusen.

Boniface has been a revelation in the Bundesliga, terrorizing defenders with his goal-scoring prowess. The 23-year-old has netted eight goals in 15 matches this season, bringing his total to 29 goals in just over a year for Leverkusen.

His scintillating performances helped the club secure its first-ever Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double, and earned him the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award, along with a place in the Team of the Season.

Currently, Boniface ranks as the fifth highest-scoring Nigerian in Bundesliga history, on track to surpass Taiwo Awoniyi’s tally of 21 goals. However, when wearing Nigeria’s iconic green jersey, he has failed to replicate his club form, which has led to some concerns about his impact on the national team.

Iloenyosi believes that the talented striker is still finding his feet with the Super Eagles and should be given more time to adapt. “Nigeria does not have patience for failure, but Boniface is a fantastic player,” Iloenyosi said in an interview with Premium Times.

“We need to give him time. He’s doing well in his club, and once he starts scoring for the country, he has the potential to become a top goalscorer,” he continued.

Iloenyosi also explained that Boniface’s success in the Bundesliga is rooted in his fitness, emphasizing that the league demands peak physical condition. “If you’re not fit, you can’t play,” he noted. “Boniface is a fantastic player, very obedient, and a nice boy. I’m supporting him in everything.”

With his continued form at Leverkusen, Iloenyosi believes Boniface will soon find his rhythm with the Super Eagles, urging fans to be patient as the young striker works to bring his club’s success to the national stage.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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