Bayer Leverkusen will be without Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface for today’s Champions League game away at Brest.
The reigning German Bundesliga champions head coach, Xabi Alonso told the club’s website that the Nigeria international is still processing the shock of a car crash he was involved in on Sunday and has been excused from the fixture.
Boniface was an occupant in a car involved in a crash a day after he had scored the winner in the German champions’ 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
He sustained minor injuries to a hand and foot but Alonso said the player needed some time to recover from the shock of the crash.
“He is not in the squad. After what happened, it’s also a precautionary measure,” Alonso told a press conference.
Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen have said Victor Boniface did not suffer a major injury after he was involved in a car crash on Sunday.
Boniface was on his way to the airport to pick up his friends when the incident occurred.
The forward’s Mercedes Benz collided with an oncoming truck.
Speaking to popular German news outlet Bild after the accident, his club Leverkusen informed:
“Boniface was on the A3 between Bad Camberg and Idstein on his way to Frankfurt Airport shortly after seven on a training-free Sunday where he wanted to pick up friends, when the Mercedes collided with a truck,” the website wrote.
“The striker was not behind the wheel himself; he was just a passenger.
“According to the police, the driver lost control of the car due to fatigue and skidded from the middle lane to the right into the truck. The collision even caused the Mercedes to overturn.
“When asked by BILD, Bayer Leverkusen said, “He is fine.” Boniface only had two minor injuries to his hand. The driver and Boniface were treated and examined in the hospital and have now arrived safely back in Cologne.”
In one of the photos posted, the forward can be seen looking into the camera and showing what appears to be his arm dripping with blood.
Boniface’s safety from the shocking event has brought relief to fans and the football community, as he continues to play a vital role in Leverkusen’s impressive campaign this season.
Leverkusen will hope to have the striker back in action for their UEFA Champions League away fixture against Brest on Wednesday.
It has been an eventful week for Boniface, who last Monday had a chaotic trip with Nigeria’s national team to Libya with a forced stay of over 15 hours at a remote airport, compelling the Eagles to boycott their matchday 4 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Bayer Leverkusen and Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface was involved in a car crash on Sunday, a day after the club’s 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Boniface was on his way to the airport to pick up his friends when the incident occurred.
Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen who have confirmed the accident, said Victor Boniface did not suffer a major injury after he was involved in a ghastly car crash on Sunday.
Here are Nigerian celebrities who survived car accidents
1. Harrysong
Afro Pop singer, Harrysong, on June 24, 2016, escaped death by the whiskers after he and his crew were involved in a car accident.
He was en route “Owerri to catch a flight to Lagos where he was to perform at the opening Gala night of Project Fame Season 9” when the incident occurred.
The ‘Reggae Blues’ musician took to his Instagram on Saturday, July 23, 2016, to thank God for sparing his life.
He wrote: “At one point I thought I was crossing over to the other side.. But no, God still ve great plans for me.. Yes.. He saved us.. Am greatful.. stay strong ==team ONEDELTA. 6 DAYS TO GO.”
2. Burna Boy
Grammy Award winner Burna Boy on Saturday, February 26, 2022 got involved in an accident with his Ferrari 458 2013.
The singer confirmed this via Instastory after several videos of an accident outside Overcomers Church, Graceland in Lekki, Lagos were posted online.
Burna wrote “Yes it’s true. I had a bad accident in my Ferrari today. My leg just hurts a little but I’m fine. It’s just funny how everyone came with their phones recording me instead of trying to help.
“I guess they were too excited to see me regardless of the situation lol. But I love you all, Gambo got me”, he added.
3. Dunsin Oyekan
Gospel singer, Dunsin Oyekan on Saturday, September 3, 2022 got involved in an auto crash on his way to Oyo State.
The accident occurred on his way from Lagos to a church ministration at Ibadan, Oyo State.
It was gathered that a crew member suffered slight injuries but everyone survived.
Speaking of the incident while ministering at a church on Saturday night, Dunsin said he took a nap and woke up to realise that the jeep was under a trailer.
“The devil tried everything not to make me come here today. If you saw the accident scene that I came out of you can never believe that I walked out alive.
“To think we were coming here, and I said let me sleep a bit so that I can be refreshed for the meeting and the next thing. I just knew we were somewhere, and the jeep had gone under the trailer.
“Though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, If you are looking for a miracle, this is a miracle standing here,” he added.
4. Sensational Bamidele
Gospel singer, Bamidele Adeek, popularly known as Sensational Bamidele, also survived a fatal auto crash in Rivers State.
Sensational Bamidele is also the leader of the live band that performs with Nyesom Wike of Rivers State during the inauguration of projects in the state.
On his Facebook page on Friday, 2nd December 2022, the singer revealed that his vehicle, which conveyed some of his crew members, had a head-on collision with another vehicle, causing his car to somersault eight times.
Sensational Bamidele wrote, “He moves mountains, and He causes walls to fall. By His power, he performed miracles. And I am standing here only because He made it.
5. Rapper CDQ
Popular indigenous Nigerian rapper Sodiq Abubakar Yusuf, popularly known as CDQ, survived a car crash in Lagos on Tuesday, August 15, 2023
The ‘Nowo E Soke’ crooner shared clips from the accident scene on his Snapchat.
He said, “Someone hit me and I had an accident tonight lol. I think my Mustang is a write-off… I need to buy another car now… I hope I don’t have internal bleeding.” he captioned in one of the videos.
6. Actress Bukola Arugba
Nollywood actress, Bukola Arugba, survived a car accident on Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos.
According to Arugba, the accident occurred a day before her birthday and resulted in serious damage to her car.
The actress disclosed this on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, as she shared a video of the damaged car on her Instagram page.
The post read in part, “This happened a day to my birthday, I kept this to celebrate and thank God Almighty first, my Keeper, Olowogbogboro Hallelujah.
“We were on the third mainland bridge, driving home gently, the road was free, suddenly a vehicle came from behind as though it wanted to overtake us, but he turned abruptly and gave the car a hard hit that looked intentional, my car started turning, hitting different angles and all we could shout was JESUS.
“It faced the bridge, we thought it was over, but suddenly it made a turn,and sat at the edge of the bridge. Surely there is power in Jesus’ name.”
7. Victor Boniface
The Super Eagles striker survived a car accident on Sunday, hours after guiding Leverkusen to a 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga.
In a now-deleted post on his social media accounts, the 23-year-old shared video footage and photos of his smashed car after an accident.
Boniface wrote, “God is the greatest” and “God says my time hasn’t come.”
Bayer Leverkusen and Nigeria striker Victor Boniface was full of gratitude and went philosophical after surviving what could have been a fatal accident yesterday.
But his Bundesliga club told German media that the Super Eagles star was ‘slightly injured’ yesterday after being involved in a car accident,’
Boniface shared video footage and photos of his smashed car after an accident in a social media post that has since been deleted.
The 23-year-old could be seen looking into the camera and then showing what appears to be his arm dripping with blood.
Boniface wrote on social media on Sunday “god is the greatest” and “god says my time hasn’t come.”
German tabloid Bild reported Boniface was a passenger in the car and was on his way to pick up a friend at Frankfurt airport when it collided with a truck.
A representative from Leverkusen told Bild that Boniface “is fine”, having been examined in hospital.
The driver of the truck was uninjured, but the total damage was estimated at around 200,000 euros ($217,000).
The striker joined Leverkusen last season and played a key role as the club broke through for an unbeaten league and cup double – their first ever Bundesliga win – while receiving his debut Nigeria call-up.
This season he has seven goals in 10 games in all competitions. On Saturday, he missed a penalty but headed in the winner in a 2-1 home victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Leverkusen are away at French club Brest in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Super Eagles Victor Osimhen has thrown his support behind Victor Boniface, who continues to struggle to find the back of the net for Nigeria, Soccernet.ng reports.
Boniface fired blanks again as the Super Eagles secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Libya in the first leg of their 2025 AFCON qualifying doubleheader.
The Bayer Leverkusen forward, who has been in stellar form at the club level, is still searching for his first goal for the national team.
Despite his struggles, Osimhen—who was unable to feature in the game due to an injury picked up during a match against Kasimpasa—took to social media to offer his encouragement.
The Napoli striker, speaking in Pidgin, assured Boniface that the goals will come, saying, “No shaking my guy, e go come, and when e finally come, e no go stop.”
After the game, Boniface humorously questioned his “village people” on social media, referencing his lack of goals for Nigeria.
He received an outpouring of support from Nigerian fans and celebrities, including rapper Odumodublvck, who commented, “Goal or no goal. You ball,” showing appreciation for Boniface’s efforts on the pitch. Boniface will be hoping to break his goal drought in the second leg of the qualifiers as Nigeria eyes a spot in the 2025 AFCON tournament.
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface scored for Bayer Leverkusen, but his effort was not enough as they succumbed to a 2-2 draw against Holstein Kiel at Bay Arena, Soccernet.ng reports.
After scoring midweek against AC Milan, Boniface returned to action for Bayer Leverkusen in their Bundesliga game against newly promoted side Holstein Kiel on Saturday.
The visitors had picked up just two points from their first five games of the campaign and were the underdogs going into the game.
The gulf in quality was quite evident from the blast of the whistle, as Bayer Leverkusen dominated the early exchanges. It took them just four minutes to take the lead after a brilliant counter-attacking football.
Die Werkself went on a counter started by Florian Wirtz, who ran from his half to Holstein Kiel’s half. He then played the ball to Exequiel Palacios, who laid it off to Boniface in the box. The Nigerian striker was not to be denied from close range, as he struck the ball with venom into Holstein Kiel’s net to make it 1-0.
Just four minutes later, Jonas Hofmann doubled Bayer Leverkusen’s lead, and it was looking like it would be a long afternoon for the visitors.
A second half goal from Victor Boniface was enough to earn Bayer Leverkusen a 1-0 home win over AC Milan in the Champions League, giving the German side a perfect start to their campaign while the Italians are still without a point.
The only goal came six minutes after the break when Boniface fired home a rebound after Milan keeper Mike Maignan had parried a shot from Jeremie Frimpong.
It was no more than the home side deserved after an opening half in which they had the majority of possession and chances but could not find a way past Maignan, while Milan struggled to get a foothold in the game.
The goal spurred the visitors into action and they threatened to find an equaliser as they pinned Leverkusen back for long periods of the second half, but they fell to their second defeat in the opening two games of the competition.
Meanwhile, Karim Adeyemi scored a first-half hat-trick as last season’s losing finalists Borussia Dortmund hammered Celtic 7-1 in the Champions League with five goals in the opening 42 minutes.
The 80,000-strong crowd started the celebrations early at the Westfalenstadion, with Emre Can scoring from the spot in the seventh minute after Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel up-ended Jamie Gittens and was booked.
Celtic momentarily hushed the deafening Yellow Wall two minutes later when Daizen Maeda bundled in a cross from Arne Engels but Adeyemi restored the lead with a shot deflected in off Auston Trusty in the 11th.
The Germany winger made it 3-1 in the 29th when he lashed a shot into the top corner past a diving Schmeichel, then won a 39th minute penalty for Serhou Guirassy to tuck away and completed his hat-trick three minutes later.
Guirassy grabbed his second of the night in the 66th and second-half substitute Felix Nmecha completed the rout in the 79th , with Celtic having Schmeichel to thank for keeping the sobering scoreline to seven.
Victor Boniface may not have scored on his UEFA Champions League debut, but that has not stopped him from expressing his pride.
The Super Eagles striker started for Bayer Leverkusen in a 4-0 demolition of home team Feyenoord.
“From paying 30 Naira to watch Champions League football for night back then for 323 Barrack Akure back then to playing my first Champions League game. Proud of this moment,” Victor Boniface posted on X
“From paying 30 Naira to watch Champions League football for night back then for 323 army barrack Akure. To playing my first Champions League game. Proud of this moment,” he wrote.
Super Eagles player Victor Boniface has shared his struggle in trying to reach out to rapper Olamide, saying that all efforts proved abortive.
He emphasised his empathy for fans who feel overlooked via his X account, revealing that he has been attempting to contact the renowned rapper since 2019 without success.
