Former Nigerian midfielder Oladimeji Lawal has expressed his support for Victor Boniface, urging Nigerian fans to stay patient with the Bayer 04 Leverkusen striker despite his national team’s ongoing goal drought.
Boniface, 23, has had a powerful club profession in Germany, contributing significantly to Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s success since his move from Union Saint-Gilloise last season, including winning multiple league titles under coach Xabi Alonso. However, his form didn’t translate into appearances for the Super Eagles, where he struggled to search out the net, scoring just once in eleven appearances.
Lawal, who previously played for Belgian side Kortrijk, urged fans to be patient, comparing Boniface’s struggles to those of legendary Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu, who similarly struggled to attain goals in AFCON tournaments despite an illustrious club profession.
“I don’t think anyone should blame Boniface for not being able to translate his goalscoring form for Bayer Leverkusen to the Super Eagles,” Lawal told Complete Sports.
“We have seen many times players score goals for their clubs in Europe but struggle to achieve them at international level. This is the nature of football in Africa.”
Lawal emphasized that despite Boniface’s current struggles, he continues to be a precious asset to the national team. “I’m not saying Boniface is not ok. If he had been disregarded of the squad and Nigeria had lost, people would have questioned the coach’s decision. Therefore, it’s difficult for coaches to make such decisions.
Lawal further highlighted Kanu’s experience, saying: “Remember that Kanu Nwankwo played in every Nations Cup before he retired, but he never scored a single goal. Would anyone say that inviting Kanu was a mistake? NO. I believe that Boniface will soon rediscover his shooting form.”
He added: “We all appreciate watching Boniface shine in certainly one of the best leagues in the world. Not calling him to the national team could be a mistake that no coach should make.
Boniface is currently sidelined with an injury and is predicted to be out for the remainder of the yr.
