‘He would have the difference’ – Jose Peseiro laments Boniface AFCON 2023 omission

Jose Peseiro has expressed his regret over Victor Boniface’s Africa Cup of Nations absence, believing the young striker could have been the game-changer for the team.

The Super Eagles’ hopes of doing it again at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) took a hit as the Bayer Leverkusen goal poacher, Boniface suffered an injury, forcing him to withdraw from the squad.

Sadly, Nigeria lost 2-1 in the final against the hosts Cote d’Ivoire and Peseiro believes Boniface would have made the difference.

“I will say that Boniface would have made the difference without injury,” he said in an interview in Portugal per Africafootunited.

“He was very confident and can play comfortably in our two-man attacking style. He can also play on both sides of the strikers and that would have made him our invisible arc in the tournament. Our options to refine our style were limited in his absence.

“He was in brilliant form before the tournament in Ivory Coast, registering 24 goal involvements (16 goals, 8 assists) in 23 all-competition appearances for Bayer Leverkusen.

“Apart from his goals and assists, Boniface offers versatility as he is comfortable playing on both flanks.”