Victor Boniface backs himself for African Player of the Year award

Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface has confidently tipped himself to win the prestigious African Player of the Year award, positioning himself ahead of fellow Nigerian star, Ademola Lookman.

The Bayer Leverkusen striker, who enjoyed a stellar debut season in German football, expressed his high hopes during an interview with SportyTV. Boniface scored an impressive 21 goals and provided 10 assists in all competitions, playing a pivotal role in Leverkusen’s successful campaign that saw them win the Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal.

However, despite his standout performances, Boniface faced disappointment in the UEFA Europa League final. Lookman, who starred for Atalanta, stole the spotlight with a sensational hat-trick that secured victory for his team. Lookman’s season-long contributions also earned him a place on the prestigious Ballon d’Or nomination list, solidifying his status as one of Africa’s top talents.

Despite Lookman’s achievements, Boniface remains firm in his belief that he deserves the accolade of Africa’s best player. “Probably between me and Lookman. I will go for myself as the African Footballer of the Year; I rate myself that high,” he stated confidently. “If it’s just what we did last season, I’ll pick myself.”

In addition to his personal ambitions, Boniface also provided insights into Victor Osimhen’s transfer situation, revealing the Napoli striker’s ambition to play in the English Premier League. Amid summer transfer speculation linking Osimhen to Chelsea, Boniface shared that the striker has a strong desire to move to England. “Three different parties – Napoli, Chelsea, Victor Osimhen. Osimhen’s mentality is strong. I know he really wants to come to the Premier League,” Boniface revealed.

Boniface also addressed the rumours surrounding Osimhen’s potential move to Saudi Arabia, dismissing the speculation while shedding light on the complexity of transfer negotiations. “There’s stuff that happened that nobody knows but people just talk on the internet. There are some details that people don’t know. Like I said before, I’m not thinking of Saudi Arabia,” he added.

With five goal involvements in six games this season (four goals, one assist), Boniface continues to showcase his excellent form for Bayer Leverkusen. As he aims for more success with his club, he remains focused on achieving individual glory on the African football stage.