Boniface suffers fresh injury setback
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Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Victor Boniface is facing a spell on the sidelines with a minor thigh injury he sustained on Monday.
The Nigeria international featured in the 2-1 defeat to Rwanda and was replaced by Umar Sadiq in the 89th minute of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo.
It had been reported that Boniface returned to Leverkusen carrying an injury and Alonso announced in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s match against Heidenheim that the 23-year-old striker would be unavailable for selection.
However, the Spaniard played down suggestions that Boniface would be ruled out for between six to eight weeks and is hopeful to have him back in action before the end of the year.
“He has a small injury in his thigh muscles,” Alonso was quoted as saying by Allgemeine Zeitung. “But it won’t be for six to eight weeks.
“We hope that he can play again this year. We now have to wait and see how he recovers.”
Boniface has failed to find the back of the net in his first 11 appearances for the Super Eagles, although he remains a key figure for Alonso’s side after contributing six goals and one assist in 10 Bundesliga games this season.
