Victor Boniface may be under intense scrutiny once again when Nigeria take on Russia in their upcoming international friendly on Friday, June 6, with the Bayer Leverkusen forward still looking to open his goal account for the Super Eagles.
Despite his impressive numbers at Leverkusen with 32 goals in 61 appearances, the 24-year-old is gradually slipping down the pecking order in the national team due to his lack of goals.
As competition for attacking spots continues to heat up, the clash against Russia could prove decisive for Boniface’s international prospects — a strong performance, and more importantly, a goal, may be just what he needs to reignite his standing with the national team.
Victor Boniface made his senior debut for Nigeria in 2023 under Jose Peseiro, featuring as a substitute in the Super Eagles’ emphatic 6–0 win over São Tomé and Príncipe.
More Read
He was later handed his first start in an International friendly against Saudi Arabia, where he thought he had marked the occasion with a goal. However, what appeared to be his maiden international strike was ultimately credited as an own goal, denying him a place on the scoresheet.
Since then, Victor Boniface has gone on to earn 10 caps for Nigeria but is yet to register his first official goal for the national team. His most recent outing came in the underwhelming 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against Zimbabwe, where he made a brief appearance off the bench.
Boniface’s position in the Super Eagles setup is facing increasing pressure, largely due to the red-hot form of Cyriel Dessers. The Rangers striker enjoyed a stellar campaign in Scotland, finishing as the Scottish Premiership’s top scorer with 18 goals.
He carried that momentum into the international scene, marking his return to the national team with a goal in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over West African rivals Ghana in the Unity Cup semifinals. He then provided an assist in the final, where the Super Eagles clinched the title after a tense penalty shootout victory over Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz.
Dessers’ standout performances during the Unity Cup reignited the debate over his limited involvement with the Super Eagles in recent years. His goal and assist in the tournament, combined with his status as the Scottish Premiership’s top scorer, have led fans to question why he hasn’t been a regular feature in Nigeria’s squad.
The 30-year-old had already proven his ability on the international stage with goals in friendlies against Mexico and Ghana, yet he has often been overlooked in favour of other forwards. However, his recent form has put him back into the picture ahead of the World Cup qualifiers and the Africa Cup of Nations in December.
Another name pushing for a regular spot in the Super Eagles attack is Tolu Arokodare. The Genk striker made his international debut in Nigeria’s win over Rwanda and was also involved in the Unity Cup final against Jamaica.
While he is yet to open his goal account for the national team, Arokodare’s club form speaks volumes. He was recently honoured with the prestigious Ebony Shoe award, given to the best African player in the Belgian Pro League, and also claimed the Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer.
With his growing reputation and consistent performances in Europe, the 24-year-old is emerging as a valuable option for Nigeria’s forward line, adding to the mounting competition for starting places.
With key names missing from Eric Chelle’s reshuffled squad, Victor Boniface and Tolu Arokodare find themselves as the only available strikers for Nigeria’s friendly clash against Russia. The absence of Victor Osimhen, Cyriel Dessers, and the injured Sadiq Umar opens the door for both forwards to make a strong case for themselves.
For Arokodare, it’s an opportunity to build on his rising profile and gain further trust from the coaching staff. But for Boniface, the stakes are much higher — it’s a must-take opportunity to silence critics and finally deliver for the Super Eagles, or risk falling further down the pecking order in an increasingly competitive attacking unit.
© Bold Media Innovations & Creative Hub Limited. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
