Boniface ‘not gutted’ amid goal taken away in friendly
Victor Boniface has insisted that he was not gutted to see his goal taken away from him during the second half of Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia in an international friendly on Friday evening.
The Bayer Leverkusen marksman made his full Super Eagles debut against the Green Falcons and was on the pitch for 78 minutes before making way for Umar Sadiq.
In the 73rd minute, Boniface thought he had scored his first goal in Super Eagles but replays confirmed that Saudi Arabia centre-back Abdulelah Al Amri turned the ball into his own net as he tried to stop Moses Simon’s low cross from reaching the number 13.
Asked if he was gutted that Nigeria’s leveler went down as an own goal, Boniface said post-match: “No. As long as we equalized so it’s okay.”
Boniface spoke of his pride of being invited to the Super Eagles squad for their back-to-back games in October.
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The 22-year-old trialed with the Golden Eaglets as a teenager but injury prevented him from making an official appearance for the five-time world champions.
“I feel proud of myself. I have been working really hard for this moment, I have been playing really good.
“To be honest I am happy with myself, with my performance, trying to represent my country at senior level, which I am really proud of myself.”
Boniface made his Super Eagles debut off the bench in a 6-0 rout of São Tomé and Príncipe in September.