Setback for Super Eagles as Victor Boniface opts out of AFCON 2023
At a time when the Jose Peseiro tutored Super Eagles believe they are good to go with the 25-man squad already approved by CAF,
Super Eagles and Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface has opted out the continental fiesta which begins on January 13 but specifically January 14 for Eagles.
Boniface who has been fantastic for his club week in week out had prior to this time been tipped to be one of the players that will deliver when it matters most for Eagles in Cote d Ivoire.
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But in what looked like a heart breaking message, the Boniface took to the social media to wish the Eagles luck an indication that he will not be part of the month long party. He was from all indications looking forward to the championship before now unfortunately, that dream won’t happen for the 23-year-old Bayer Leverkusen striker as he took to his Instagram page earlier today, January 8, to confirm his exit from the Super Eagles 2023 AFCON squad.
Victor Boniface to miss AFCON 2023.
He shared a picture wearing a Super Eagles shirt which he captioned: “Good luck guys….. Wish you guys all the best at afcon” with two love hearts and one broken heart emojis as he tagged Super Eagles official Instagram page.
Recall that when the Super Eagles played a friendly match against an Abu Dhabi club, Al Gharbia FC on Sunday, January 7, Boniface didn’t start the game and wasn’t on the bench.
His absence from the team wasn’t obvious since the Eagles played against a lowly-rated team and the Nigerian side won emphatically, 12-0.
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When the starting lineup for the warm-up game against Guinea was released earlier today, January 8, and Victor Boniface wasn’t in the lineup and not part of the substitutes, Nigerians began to wonder what had happened to the 23-year-old striker. There are strong indications that he sustained injury but the nature of the injury has not been confirmed even as detailed information is expected from the medics before Eagles hit Abidjan
Fans of the Leverkusen strong man have however taken to the social media to wish him well while encouraing him to keep his head and hope high.
@_AsiwajuLerry said Keep your head up bro, better days ahead for sure 🙏🏽🇳🇬❤️ ‘
@Shawnifee
Man, so sorry about this. The best is yet to come. You’ll come back stronger!
Latest information however indicate that he will be out for at least six months.