Tag: Boniface

Nigeria International  striker Victor Boniface will expectedly be back in action after a three-month injury enforced  absence for Bayer Leverkusen in  today’s German Cup semi-final against Fortuna Dusseldorf .

This much was said by Coach Xabi Alonso ahead of today’s cup game.

Boniface missed the last Africa Cup of Nations in January and February held in Cote d’Ivoire after he got injured barely a week before the start of the competition.

The 23-year-old later  underwent surgery on an adductor muscle injury in January and has since being undergoing rehabilitation.

Read Also: Injury: Super Eagles star Boniface back in Bayer Leverkusen squad — Alonso

“We are in a super situation. We have no injuries and a full squad. Boni (Boniface) is also back in the squad,” Alonso told a press conference, with the Bundesliga leaders in the hunt for three trophies this season.

Asked how long Boniface could play in the game, Alonso said: “Not 90 minutes. 45 maybe not. But maybe 30. He has done a good recovery and has trained well. He has a strong mentality to come back. He can’t wait to get back.”

Boniface had scored 10 goals and set up another seven in the Bundesliga before his injury.

Bundesliga  champions  in waiting, Bayer Leverkusen, has placed a staggering  €55m transfer  fee on  Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface  ahead of next summer transfer window.

Incidentally, an unnamed Premier League club has  reportedly approached Bayer Leverkusen with an inquiry about the availability of  the Super Eagles striker  who missed the last Africa Cup of Nations  due to injury on the eve of the tournament.

Leverkusen has declared  Boniface not for sale as they wished to keep him for another season but  has since placed  a fee of at least €55m  just in case for any   initial negotiations.

Boniface only joined Leverkusen from Union-Saint Gilloise in Belgium in the summer.

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In his first season, the 23-year-old has 10 goals and seven assists in 16 games but he has been out with an abductor injury since January and  only returned to training  this week .

Yet  with Boniface  already linked  to  Arsenal  in January  and  manager  Mikel Arteta  poised  to  sign a high profile striker in the summer, there  is a growing speculations  that the Gunners  could that  be that mystery club.

The writing appears to be on the wall for Eddie Nketiah, who has barely featured of late except for a short cameo against FC Porto in the dying stages. Nketiah hasn’t started a game for Arsenal in 2024, and that’s even more significant when you realise Gabriel Jesus hasn’t been fit either.

And journalist Florian Plettenberg has now revealed that an ‘unknown’ English side have made an approach.

Sharing his update on X, Plettenberg said the 23-year-old has a ‘big market’ in England and one club has already made their move.

He explained: “News Victor Boniface: The 23 y/o striker has a big market in England. In addition, Bayer 04 has a concrete verbal inquiry for him from an unknown club from the Premier League.

 “Boniface is not actually for sale as they would like to keep him

 “If Leverkusen were to be willing to talk at all, offers of more than 55 million euros would have to be made.

 “Boniface, now back in training after an adductor surgery in January.”

Of course, it remains to be seen how interested Arsenal are in Boniface, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they are the mystery club mentioned.

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has revealed that Victor Boniface is edging closer to returning after an injury that has kept him out of action for three months, Soccernet.ng reports.

Boniface has been outstanding for Bayer Leverkusen since he joined from Belgian club Royale Union SG last summer.

Following his injury, he had to undergo surgery, and that has kept him out of action since the turn of the year. Since his surgery, Boniface has frequently shared pictures of himself during physiotherapy sessions.

Similarly, Leicester City’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, has revealed that Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, is nearing full fitness after picking up an injury in December, Soccernet.ng reports.

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 “Wilf is still out and that is all. He has already started to do some sessions with us, but part of the session, not all. Hopefully next week he can complete the session with us, which means he starts to be available. Hopefully, we can have Wilf back because, as you know, he is an important player for us,” the Italian manager said.

Chelsea are expressing strong interest in securing the services of 23-year-old Nigerian striker Victor Boniface from Bayer Leverkusen for the upcoming season, Soccernet.ng reports.

Earlier, the London side was linked with pursuing Victor Osimhen from Napoli, who aspired to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Didier Drogba.

However, reports from Sport BILD via ESPN suggest that this pursuit may not materialize, as Napoli demands Chelsea to meet Osimhen’s release clause of €130 million.

Read Also: Napoli target  Boniface as Osimhen’s replacement

Given Chelsea’s significant expenditure of €1 billion across the last three transfer windows, the club faces potential financial fair play issues.

As a result, they are considering a more cost-effective option, with Boniface potentially available for €40 million to strengthen their attack for the next season.

Boniface has made a significant impact at Bayer Leverkusen since joining from Union SG last summer for a reported fee of €20.5 million.

In his debut season with the Bundesliga side, he has demonstrated his scoring prowess, tallying 10 goals and seven assists in 16 Bundesliga appearances.

The Super Eagles may be lacking quality in midfield but they have “fantastic” strikers who could be located directly for them to score goals at the AFCON, according to former coach Gernot Rohr.

Rohr picked the Eagles as one of his favourites for the tournament.

“Nigeria are one of the favourites, of course,” began Benin Republic coach Rohr in an interview.

“I saw the (squad) list, so many ggreat players and (with) experience.

“The strikers are fantastic. They need stability to be complete.

“The midfield can find the strikers with direct football, sometimes you have to take risks.”

Read Also: Osimhen’s AFOTY glory can inspire Nigeria’s success at AFCON, says Rohr

Rohr said he believes goalkeeper Francis Uzoho “can do the job” for the team particularly as he does not think there is a better option for the Cyprus-based shot stopper.

In a related story, Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has tasked the Super Eagles players to support Victor Osimhen finish as the highest goal scorer of the 2023 AFCON.

Speaking in the team training camp in Dubai, the Portuguese coach said Osimhen is capable and the squad should get behind him as they did during the qualifying tournament.

“Osimhen was the best scorer in our qualifiers with the support of the team, he can do it again at the AFCON,” Peseiro said.

“I want you all to help him become the highest goal scorer at AFCON.”

The CAF Player of the Year was top scorer in the AFCON qualifiers with 10 goals.

Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has already tipped Osimhen as the MVP of the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.

Super Eagles tackle Dubai club for Guinea AFCON warm-up

Late call-up Alhassan Yusuf and Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface have already caught the eye in the Super Eagles first training sessions in Dubai.

A top source informed SCORENigeria: “It’s still early days, but the new comer Alhassan (Yusuf) and Boniface have already caught the eye.

“They are great additions to the team.

“The training has been going very well and there is a seriousness and focus by all the players.”

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Central midfielder Alhassan, 23, is a late replacement for injured Wilfred Ndidi and has not been capped by Nigeria at any levels.

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen featured in Thursday evening session after his arrival from Lagos earlier that day.

The team will continue to have two training sessions daily before a warm-up game against fellow AFCON finalists Guinea on Monday.