‘I gave up’ – Nigeria striker Victor Boniface opens up on depression after ACL injury

Nigerian striker Victor Boniface has opened up on his depression and how he considered giving up on football.

The Nigerian signed for Bodø/Glimt from Lagos-based Real Sapphire FC in March 2019 following his 66 outings, winning and won the Norwegian league title  twice before his move to Royale Union SG last summer.

However, Boniface’s career almost came to an untimely end after he suffered two serious injuries in his career, firstly, he was out for six months due to an ACL in 2018, and two years later, same injury saw him out for over a year.

While trying to understand and get through his second injury spell, the news of his mother’s death emerged and he began to have a rethink about his career.

“I gave up. I was no longer interested in playing football,” Boniface told OJBsports.

“There was a period when I lost my mum, I also had a bad injury that was going to keep me out for 6-8 months, and I lost a good offer from Club Brugge.

“I lost interest in football, I forgot about my diet, I began to eat everything, I started living abnormal life, I just wanted to be happy, I started partying and drinking. I don’t drink normally, but I started it because I was depressed.”

Boniface has played 22 games this season and has four goals and four assists to his name and suffers no serious injury since 2021.