Bayer Leverkusen marksman Victor Boniface reveals not playing at the 2023 Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) tournament with the Super Eagles is one of his biggest disappointment; npflupdates.com reports.
Boniface was supposed to be at the 2023 AFCON with the Super Eagles; but had to withdraw few weeks to the tournament due to an adductor injury.
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Following the injury, the former Bodø/Glimt forward, missed out on many important matches for both club and country.
Boniface gets emotional following 2023 AFCON withdrawal
“It was difficult, one of the most painful moments of my career – not only the injury itself, but of course also my absence from the Africa Cup of Nations and some important Bundesliga games,” Boniface told AFP and was quoted by Allnigeria.
“But that’s football, you have ups, you have downs. It’s about your attitude, your mindset. You need the right people around you in moments like this. I had the support of the club – that was important.”
Speaking about his experience at Leverkusen, the 22-year-old reveals that having Xabi Alonso as coach is a great motivation.
According to him, the former Liverpool midfielder is a source of inspiration, and at the same time a brother.
“Imagine you’re training and your coach is doing better than you,” Boniface told AFP in an interview.
“Then you want to step up your game.
“For him to be involved in training gives us a boost,” Boniface said of Alonso, who “has won everything that can be won in football”.
“Sometimes he tells me of players he played with, with similar abilities to me. He tries to improve me in my weakest areas.”
Boniface has been very unfortunate with injuries before major international tournaments.
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Recall, in 2019, he had to withdraw from Nigeria’s Flying Eagles squad to the U-20 AFCON after sustaining a knee injury few days before the start of the tournament in Niger.
And few months later, the former Royale Union Saint Gilloise forward damaged his cruciate ligament in a pre-season friendly against SK Brann, which saw him miss the World Cup in Poland.
