Victor Boniface: Super Eagles Striker Suffers Fresh Setback Days After AFCON Squad Snub
- Victor Boniface has been ruled out of Werder Bremen’s Bundesliga clash against Stuttgart with a knee contusion.
- The injury setback comes days after the 24-year-old forward was dropped from Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 squad by Eric Chelle
- Boniface’s history of injuries continues to disrupt the striker’s attempt to regain form this season
Victor Boniface’s difficult season has taken another hit.
Just days after being left out of Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad, the Super Eagles striker has now been ruled out of Werder Bremen’s Bundesliga clash against Stuttgart due to injury.
Source: Getty Images
The timing could not be worse for Boniface, whose year has been shaped by frustration and missed opportunities at both club and international level.
Boniface dropped from Nigeria’s AFCON squad
Boniface was absent when Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle unveiled his 28-man squad for AFCON 2025 after the striker was initially listed in the expanded 55-man provisional list.
For a player who once looked set to become a long-term attacking option for Nigeria behind Victor Osimhen, his omission landed hard.
Competition for attacking spots in the current Super Eagles squad is fierce, but Boniface’s absence still raised eyebrows given his previous performances at club level.
Being overlooked for AFCON felt like confirmation that the 24-year-old forward had slipped down the pecking order at a critical moment after failing to score in 11 appearances for Werder Bremen this season, as seen on Fotmob.
Boniface suffers new injury
Any hopes of an immediate response on the pitch have now been paused.
Source: Getty Images
Werder Bremen coach Horst Steffen confirmed that Boniface will miss Sunday’s Bundesliga match against Stuttgart after suffering a knee contusion, as seen on Werder Bremen's official website.
“It happened in a challenge, knee to knee, and it really hurt,” Steffen explained during his pre-match press conference.
“Unfortunately, the recovery hasn't been as quick as we'd hoped. I can't yet say whether he'll be available for us again this year.”
The injury occurred during a heavy collision and has proven slow to heal. With Bremen also facing Augsburg before the Christmas break, Boniface’s availability for the final game of the year remains uncertain.
Boniface’s long history of injuries
Injuries have been an unwelcome theme throughout Boniface’s career.
Early on, he suffered two anterior cruciate ligament injuries, setbacks that threatened to derail his development before it truly began.
Those concerns resurfaced last summer when a proposed move to AC Milan collapsed, largely due to medical worries.
Even during his strong spell at Bayer Leverkusen, fitness issues repeatedly interrupted his form and limited his run of matches. That pattern ultimately influenced the club’s decision to move on.
Now at Werder Bremen, Boniface has been eager to rebuild his confidence, but this latest injury delays that process once again.
The striker remains focused on returning before the year ends if possible.
Boniface laments unfair treatment
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Victor Boniface says he is being unfairly treated as he struggles to establish himself at Werder Bremen.
It has been a tough start to life for the 24-year-old, who moved to Bremen on a season-long loan from Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen. The striker says he is being unfairly judged for his cryptic posts on social media, reiterating that they are nothing serious.
Source: Legit.ng
