Injured Victor Boniface to be sidelined until next year

Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface will miss the remainder of 2024 after sustaining a thigh injury during Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to Rwanda in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

According to Sky Germany, the 23-year-old suffered a torn muscle fiber and was substituted in the 89th minute for Umar Sadiq.

Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, speaking ahead of their match against Heidenheim, offered limited details but expressed cautious optimism:

“He will miss a few games. I can’t say exactly how long. It won’t be six to eight weeks. We hope he can still play this year.”

This marks Boniface’s second significant injury of the year.

Earlier, an abductor injury sidelined him for much of the second half of last season. Despite these setbacks, the striker has been in excellent form, scoring six goals and providing one assist in 10 Bundesliga appearances this season.

Leverkusen now look to Patrik Schick and summer signing Martin Terrier to fill the void left by Boniface.

However, neither has matched the Nigerian’s impact so far.

With Bayern Munich setting the pace in the Bundesliga, the duo are expected to find form to keep Leverkusen’s title hopes alive.