Super Eagles: Ex-International backs Victor Boniface to find scoring form

By Saheed Afolabi

Former Nigerian international, Dimeji Lawal, has expressed confidence that Victor Boniface will soon find his scoring touch for the Super Eagles, following a string of goalless appearances for the national team.

The Bayer Leverkusen forward has struggled to replicate his club form with the Super Eagles, failing to score in 12 appearances, which has led to increasing criticism from fans.

However, Lawal believes the situation is not unique to Boniface, and he expects the striker’s goal-scoring drought to end soon.

“I don’t think anyone should blame Boniface for his inability to transfer his club form to the Super Eagles,” Lawal told Complete Sports. “It’s not uncommon for players who score goals for their clubs in Europe to struggle when they play in African football. We’ve seen this happen many times before.”

Lawal emphasized that Boniface’s absence from the team wouldn’t have been a viable solution, especially considering the team’s results.

“If he had been dropped and we lost the game without him, people would have questioned the coach’s decision. That’s why it’s difficult for coaches to make decisions,” he explained.

Lawal also drew a comparison to Nigerian football legend Kanu Nwankwo, who, despite his stellar career, never scored a goal in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) during his playing days.

“Remember that Kanu played in all the Nations Cup tournaments before he retired, but he never scored a single goal. Would anyone say a coach inviting Kanu was foolish?” Lawal asked. “The same applies to Boniface – he’s a crucial part of the Super Eagles, and no coach would take that lightly.”

He added that Boniface’s performance in one of the top leagues in Europe is something to be proud of and a key reason why he should remain a vital part of the national team.

“Watching Boniface score in one of the best leagues in the world is something we all appreciate. It would be wrong to not include him in the national team. A coach who leaves him out would be inviting trouble from Nigerians,” Lawal stated confidently.

Despite the criticism, Lawal remains positive that Boniface will soon rediscover his form with the Super Eagles, making an important contribution to the team’s future success.