Victor Boniface made a triumphant return from injury by scoring a goal in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-0 victory over West Ham in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals.
The moment he was brought on as a substitute, there was a feeling of inevitability that he would make an impact. In the 83rd minute, Jonas Hofmann’s powerful volley found its way through a crowded six-yard box, breaking the deadlock.
Hofmann then turned provider in the 91st minute, delivering a tempting cross that Boniface expertly glanced into the net, giving Xabi Alonso’s team a significant advantage heading into the second leg.
Prior to the match against West Ham, Boniface had the opportunity to secure the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen in their upcoming game against Werder Bremen.
Read Also: How I came close to quitting football when I turned 21- Victor Boniface
If they fail to clinch it at home, they will have another chance away to Borussia Dortmund. At this point, it seems inevitable that Leverkusen will be crowned champions, as they are currently 16 points ahead of Bayern Munich at the top of the table and only require one more victory.
This remarkable achievement would make Boniface the first Nigerian player to win the German topflight.
Despite missing the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations due to injury, Boniface has been a crucial member of Alonso’s impressive team, contributing 17 goals and nine assists in 26 appearances across all competitions.
Many believe that if he had been fit for the tournament, Nigeria could have potentially won the final against Cote d’Ivoire.
However, there are differing opinions on how Boniface’s presence would have affected the team’s performance.
Calvin Onwuka, the CEO of ACL Sports, hopes that the new Super Eagles manager will utilize Boniface effectively in the right system to bring out his full potential.
