Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface is in contention for a prestigious honor despite his season being disrupted by injury that he sustained with Nigeria before the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Bayer Leverkusen striker has been nominated for the Bundesliga Team of the Season, a testament to his impact on the club's title-winning campaign.
If he gets in, it will surely be a memorable season for him as he has already won several Rookie of the Month awards and a Player of the Month award in the course of his debut season after his move from Belgian side Union St Gilliose in the summer.
Boniface: Injury setback but still doing the business
Boniface's blistering start to the season was unfortunately cut short by an adductor injury. However, his contributions to Die Werkself's historic Bundesliga triumph cannot be understated.
Despite missing eleven games due to the setback, the 23-year-old currently sits atop Leverkusen's scoring charts, tied with team-mate Florian Wirtz, with an impressive 11 goals and nine assists
This nomination adds another layer of recognition to a season that could have been even more remarkable for Boniface.
He was primed to make his tournament debut for the Super Eagles at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations but suffered the injury during Nigeria's pre-tournament preparations.
Unfortunately, it will be the second time such an occurrence will happen to him as he also got injured with the Nigeria U20s before the 2019 U20 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Niger.
While his national team aspirations were put on hold, Boniface continued to shine for his club after his recovery from injury.
His goals and overall play were instrumental in propelling Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title.
Last week's emphatic 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen secured the Bundesliga title for Leverkusen, putting an unassailable gap between them and second-placed Bayern Munich.
The celebrations in Leverkusen are far from over.
More titles ahead for Super Eagles marksman Boniface and Leverkusen
The club is also in the quarter-finals of the Europa League where they hold a 2-0 first leg advantage over West Ham United, offering Boniface another chance to showcase his talent on a grand stage.
He'll be looking to overcome the injury woes that hampered his season and help his team secure a coveted Europa League title.
With fan votes, club votes, and Bundesliga expert opinions all playing a role in determining the Team of the Season, Boniface faces stiff competition from an impressive list of attackers including Harry Kane, Serhou Guirassy, and Marvin Ducksch.
Regardless of the outcome, the nomination itself is a fitting tribute to a young Nigerian talent who has proven his mettle in his first season in one of Europe's most competitive leagues.
