Surgery to sideline Super Eagles striker for four months

In a major setback for both the Super Eagles and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 23-year-old striker Victor Okoh Boniface is set to endure an approximately four-month hiatus from football action due to an injury sustained while representing his national team.

Despite being initially named in Jose Peseiro’s 25-man AFCON squad, Boniface had to withdraw after suffering a muscle-tendon injury in his right adductor.

As a replacement for Boniface, OGC Nice’s Terem Moffi has been swiftly drafted into the squad and is set to join the team for the upcoming engagements in Ivory Coast.

The injury news took a more ominous turn after an initial scan, indicating that the former Union Saint-Gilloise striker would be sidelined for six weeks.

However, Bayer Leverkusen’s official website confirmed that Boniface will undergo surgery, pushing his expected return date to early April.

This unfortunate development deals a significant blow to Xabi Alonso’s plans, as his team will now be without their top scorer during the crucial stages of the season.

Boniface’s absence will be keenly felt in Leverkusen’s upcoming match against Bayern Munich and the knockout games in the UEFA Europa League.

The timeline of his recovery leaves open the possibility of a return in the quarter-finals, should the team progress.

Throughout the current season, Boniface has been a standout performer, tallying ten goals and contributing six assists in sixteen league starts for Xabi Alonso’s side.