Victor Boniface: Why the Super Eagles striker was excluded from Bayer Leverkusen’s Europa League squad

Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has been omitted from Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s UEFA Europa League squad for the 2026/27 group phase, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 25-year-old had returned to Leverkusen this summer after an unsuccessful season-long loan spell at Werder Bremen, in which he produced no Bundesliga goals in 11 appearances before a knee operation ended his campaign, and his brief revival in pre-season had led to speculation that he would be in Martínez’s plans for the new season.

Speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga fixture against Union Berlin, Leverkusen coach Carles Martínez revealed why he excluded the former Union St. Gilloise striker from his Europa League squad.

Victor Boniface’s knee isn’t fully healed

The main reason Martínez offered for the exclusion was physical readiness. UEFA’s Europa League squad registration deadline came at a point in the calendar when Boniface, despite his encouraging pre-season, was still not in the condition his manager needed him to be.

“Two months ago, when we started our preparations, this question was not to be expected,” the Spanish manager said as revealed by Kicker.

“He wasn’t ready, he was in pain, his knee wasn’t doing so well, and physically he was very far behind.”

Despite making a decision that would definitely hurt the Super Eagles striker, Carles Martinez is backing Victor Boniface to make a full return to top form.

The Leverkusen head coach used the press conference to publicly protect his striker’s confidence and hint that January is the moment he expects Boniface to be ready to play 90 minutes again.

“I hope you can ask me the reason for this decision every week, because Boni is getting better and better,” the 42-year-old continued.

“That would be best for him and the club. In many games, when we need a goal, Boni is on my mind.

“We will help him improve, and I hope that in the coming months or at the end of the season we can say: Boni is at 100%.”

The Europa League snub is a signal that Boniface’s summer at Leverkusen has not gone the way his pre-season form suggested.

He is behind Patrik Schick and Christian Kofane in the central striker pecking order, meaning he has to work his way through beating those two in training before getting the chance, while building fitness and hoping his knee doesn’t give way again.