Nigerian striker Victor Boniface is on fire at Bayer Leverkusen this season, but the 23-year-old's journey has not been all smooth sailing.
He has had to endure a lot to get to where he is today and now, the world has taken notice of the striker, with many clubs jostling for his signature after only his first season in the Bundesliga.
Early promise and a painful setback
Victor Boniface was one of the players Paul Aigbogun was counting on for success at the U20 AFCON in 2019 as the Flying Eagles prepared for the tournament.
Sadly, a knee injury just before the tournament started in Niger meant he had to miss the entirety of the games.
This was a huge blow for the young striker, but true to Nigerian spirit, he didn't let it break him.
Boniface bounced back strong at his club, showing the resilience that's become a trademark of his career.
Injury disrupts dream Super Eagles career
Fast forward to this 2023, and Nigerians were buzzing when Boniface got his first call-up to the senior national team. It was a dream come true for the Akure-born forward, and he was on fire.
At that point, he bagged 16 goals in his first 23 games for Leverkusen.
He made his debut against Sao Tome and Principe and bagged an assist in that game in the AFCON qualifier and then got his first goal for Nigeria in the 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia in November 2023.
Victor Boniface then player three more games for Nigeria – against Mozambique, Lesotho and Zimbabwe before disaster struck.
Injury hit during Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations preparations, forcing him to miss the entire tournament, including that gut-wrenching final loss to Ivory Coast.
Learning from a legend and rising stronger
Despite these setbacks, Victor Boniface finds himself under the wing of a legendary midfielder at Leverkusen – Xabi Alonso! Imagine training every day with a guy who has won everything there is to win in football? That's the kind of boost Boniface gets.
“Imagine you're training and your coach is doing better than you,” Boniface told AFP. “Then you want to step up your game.” He says having Alonso involved in training is a massive motivator. But it's not just about inspiration.
Alonso pushes Boniface to improve, even sharing stories of players with similar skills. “He tries to improve me in my weakest areas,” says the striker.
Boniface said that type of coach is one that pushes you to be your best at all times.
18 goals and 10 assists in 29 games in all competitions is surely a testament to what Boniface said about Xabi Alonso.
To think he missed three months of the season through injury. He probably could have had more.
Composure under pressure: A penalty hero continues his streak
Victor Boniface's composure under pressure was on display for the whole world to see earlier this month.
He coolly slotted home a penalty to open the scoring in Leverkusen's historic 5-0 win against Werder Bremen, securing their first-ever Bundesliga title.
Not that it will be first time he does that because right from his Flying Eagles days, he was the team’s designated penalty taker.
“I love penalties,” he declared, showing nerves of steel in that pressure moment. This calmness under pressure is a sign of a player who has faced adversity and come out stronger.
A fan favorite with a fun celebration
Victor Boniface is already a fan favorite at Leverkusen, and his signature celebration – a result of a playful moment with a teammate – just adds to his charm.
He's a reminder that even though the game is serious, there's always room for some fun. When celebrating the title win, he didn't forget the fans, reminding them that the season isn't over.
His focus is now on the upcoming game against Stuttgart, followed by Roma in the Europa League.
He is adored by fans in Germany and Nigeria with that celebration and with several Rookie of the Month awards, a Player of the Month award and a Team of the Season nomination in the bag, it is not hard to see why he is loved.
Victor Boniface: Social media sensation
Victor Boniface is very active on social media especially X and Instagram where he drops memes and catchy captions to a comedic effect.
After every game, he drops a post with a witty caption that makes fans troop to his page to see what is new there.
He is also the king of banter on social media as he engages with followers in conversation with phrases in ‘pidgin English’ that are often hilarious but soothing.
Eyes on the future: A dream realized
A self-proclaimed childhood Arsenal fan, Victor Boniface isn't looking too far ahead. His immediate focus is on achieving more with Leverkusen, including a dream Champions League debut next season.
He's hungry to learn and improve, fuelled by the determination that helped him overcome earlier setbacks.
It is a fighting spirit typical with Nigerians and many can definitely relate to it.
Super Eagles prospects
It's important to note that injury has limited Victor Boniface's appearances for Nigeria, as he missed the whole of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Former Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro even stated that Nigeria would probably have won the Nations Cup if he has a fit Boniface and Osimhen in attack.
With one goal and one assist in five games, the Super Eagles attack is on good hands with Boniface and Osimhen running the top. It is in good hands for the foreseeable future.
With the World Cup qualifiers in June and Boniface basking in the euphoria of Leverkusen's Bundesliga title win, it is hoped he will bring the goals and assists to the Super Eagles as they navigate their way towards the World Cup in 2026.
