Victor Boniface Reportedly Weighing Exit from Super Eagles Over Injury Concerns
June 7, 2025 — Lagos, Nigeria
Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface is reportedly considering walking away from international football with Nigeria due to recurring injury setbacks sustained during national team duties, sources close to the player have revealed.
The 24-year-old striker briefly announced his retirement from the Super Eagles on social media shortly after Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Russia in Moscow last Friday. The post was later deleted, but it sparked widespread speculation about his future with the national team.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Boniface has grown increasingly frustrated with a pattern of serious injuries that seem to coincide with his involvement in the national squad.
“Victor is deeply troubled,” a source close to the player told SCORENigeria. “He believes every time he reports for international duty, he ends up getting badly injured. It’s taking a toll on him mentally and physically.”
A Career Disrupted by Untimely Injuries
Boniface’s frustrations are not unfounded. The striker, who had been in peak form leading up to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year, was forced to withdraw just days before the tournament kicked off in Côte d’Ivoire. A severe abductor muscle injury sidelined him for several months and required surgery, dealing a significant blow to both the player and the Super Eagles’ AFCON campaign.
The injury bug struck again during a 2025 AFCON qualifier against Rwanda in Uyo last November. Boniface limped off with another long-term issue, which once more kept him out of action for months and disrupted his club season with Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
National Team or Club: A Difficult Choice
For elite players like Boniface, balancing national team commitments with club responsibilities is always a delicate act. But when repeated injuries occur in one context, priorities start to shift.
With Leverkusen now a title-contending force in Germany and Europe, Boniface’s continued absence due to national team-related injuries raises difficult questions — not just for the player, but for his club and country.
The situation also reflects a broader challenge faced by national teams across Africa, where top talents playing in Europe often face grueling travel schedules, limited recovery time, and less-than-ideal training conditions when they join up for international matches.
Public Reactions and Emotional Toll
Although Boniface has yet to make any formal announcement about stepping away from international football, his now-deleted retirement post hints at deeper emotional exhaustion.
Fans have responded with a mixture of concern and disappointment. “He’s one of our brightest talents,” said Femi Adetunji, a Nigerian football enthusiast in Abuja. “But I understand where he’s coming from. He has to protect his career.”
Some supporters have called on the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to provide better medical and physical support for players, especially those returning from injury or with known vulnerabilities.
What’s Next?
It remains unclear whether Boniface will return to the Super Eagles fold or opt to focus exclusively on his club career moving forward. For now, those close to the player say he is still reflecting on his options and hasn’t made a definitive decision.
His potential absence would undoubtedly leave a gap in Nigeria’s attacking lineup, especially as the national team prepares for key qualifiers later this year.
As discussions around player welfare continue to grow in African football, Boniface’s dilemma underscores the high stakes — both personal and professional — that come with wearing the national colors.
This story was first reported by SCORENigeria.
