Super Eagles’ AFCON 2013 winner faults Osimhen-Boniface partnership

Super Eagles superstars Victor Boniface and Victor Osimhen are not a good fit according to Efe Ambrose.

Super Eagles’ AFCON 2013 winner faults Osimhen-Boniface partnership

Joba Ogunwale 12:09 - 18.04.2024

Osimhen and Boniface are two of Nigeria’s best strikers in Europe this season but they are not a perfect fit according to an ex-Super Eagles star. 

Super Eagles Africa Cup of Nations winner Efe Ambrose has kicked against the partnership of Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface. 

Osimhen and Boniface's impressive numbers

Ambrose, an AFCON winner with Nigeria in 2013, believes the manager in charge of the Super Eagles when they resume their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign should not play Osimhen and Boniface upfront. 

Osimhen and Boniface are two of the best strikers in European football this season, with the latter leading Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title. 

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Boniface has 18 goals and 10 assists in 27 games for Bayer Leverkusen while Osimhen has 15 goals and four assists in the same number of games. 

Osimhen has scored 15 goals in all competitions for Napoli this season || Imago

Ambrose against Boniface-Osimhen Super Eagles pairing

But despite their impressive numbers, Ambrose urged Nigeria’s coach not to pair them together when they take on South Africa in their next World Cup qualifier. 

“Two good players playing in two different teams with different formations is different from playing in the same team with a different formation,” Ambrose told OwnGoalNigeria.

“They are both point man at their clubs, so having both play for Nigeria will mean one playing out of position or one dropping to the bench.

“Boniface plays in a formation where he is at the peak of the attack to receive the passes, just like Osimhen at Napoli. Playing both in a 4-4-2 formation looks good on paper, but they could be a problem of players running into each other’s space in the box.”

Victor Boniface and Victor Osimhen have played together just once | ScoreNigeria

The two players have played together for the national team once as Boniface only made his Super Eagles bow last year. 

They were expected to play with each other upfront at the AFCON, but Boniface had to pull out due to an injury. 

It now remains to be seen if the Super Eagles coach will take Ambrose’s advice and decide against starting both players together when the team regroups against South Africa in June.