By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Werder Bremen head coach Horst Steffen has dismissed speculation of a rift with Nigerian striker Victor Boniface, following controversy sparked by the forward’s recent social media activity.
Boniface, who joined the Bundesliga club in the summer, attracted attention after posting a string of satirical remarks online — including the cryptic phrase: “Life is like a shoe, you can’t drink a cow because the earth is a carrot.”
The posts drew mixed reactions from fans and fueled speculation about tensions at the club.
Steffen, however, insisted the issue has been exaggerated and maintained that the 23-year-old remains a positive influence in the dressing room.
“We laugh a lot together; I think it’s great when a player has such a sense of humor and shows such joy.
“He fits right into our group. I don’t know what others say or how it’s been elsewhere,” Steffen told Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The coach added that Boniface’s personality off the pitch has no bearing on his professionalism.
“I’ve gotten to know him as a very lovely person; he’s likeable, approachable, and dedicated to the team,” Steffen said.
Steffen stressed that Boniface remains focused on Bremen’s campaign and that his contributions on the pitch far outweigh any online noise.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.
