What makes Victor Boniface a special kid - Nigerian legend Mikel Obi

Bayer Leverkusen's star man, Victor Boniface. (Photo Credit: Bayer/X)

FOOTBALL What makes Victor Boniface a special kid - Nigerian legend Mikel Obi

What makes Victor Boniface a special kid - Nigerian legend Mikel Obi

Izuchukwu Akawor • 07:41 - 09.01.2024

Nigeria Super Eagles legend John Mikel Obi believes Victor Boniface is going to be special and has made an interesting prediction about his future.

Former Super Eagles skipper John Mikel Obi has lavished praises on Nigerian youngster Victor Boniface, making an interesting claim about what the Bayer Leverkusen rising star will become.

Pulse Sports can report Mikel Obi said this amongst other things during the latest episode of his The Obi One podcast, where he described Boniface as a complete striker. 

Boniface’s rise to the top

The 23-year-old has become one of the most recognisable and exciting forwards in Europe after an impressive debut season in the Bundesliga.

Boniface has played a pivotal role in the rise of Bayer Leverkusen to the top of German football, with the Nigerian becoming the team’s contributor-in-chief. 

Victor Boniface showcases three of his four Rookie of the Month awards
Victor Boniface showcases three of his four Rookie of the Month awards. (Photo Credit: Boniface/X)

The former Union Saint-Gilloise star has scored 16 goals and assisted eight more across all competitions this season for Werkself.

Boniface’s contributions have helped Xabi Alonso’s exciting to a record-breaking 25 games unbeaten run, the longest streak by any German team.

Victor Boniface is Bayer Leverkusen's leading scorer in the UEL. (Photo Credit: Bayer/X)

His impressive form earned him a deserved maiden call-up to the Nigeria Super Eagles last year and a spot in the 25-man squad named by Jose Peseiro for the AFCON2023.

Mikel On Boniface

Speaking on his latest podcast. Former Chelsea and Nigerian star, Obi, was full of praise for his compatriot. 

Nigerian icon Mikel Obi
Nigerian icon Mikel Obi || Instagram/Mikel Obi

According to him, while Boniface could still improve, he is a complete striker who can be special given his rare traits on the pitch. 

“What a talent he is,” Mikel Obi stated. “Everyone is going gaga about Victor Osimhen and deservedly so - he has done well and played well in the past seasons - but Boniface is another young kid coming out from bloc.”

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“People need to know who this kid is, he’s a complete striker. He still has room to improve, (but) he would become a complete striker in the next couple of years.”

Speaking further, Obi added that Boniface’s rare traits as a striker make him a special player and talent.

Boniface has now scored 10 and assisted 7 goals this season for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. (Photo Credit: Bayer/X)

“He’s got the physique, is quick, and technically good on the ball. It is difficult to see strikers that big, physically big, strong, powerful and then good on the ball,” he added.

“His assists, we first touched on that, his assists, not just scoring goals, and that’s what I think will make this kid special. I can’t wait to see what his journey will be in the next few years.”

Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface made his first appearance for the Super Eagles of Nigeria against Sao Tome and Principe
Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface made his first appearance for the Super Eagles of Nigeria against Sao Tome and Principe but is now ruled out of AFCON2023. Image Credit - Instagram/Boniface

Meanwhile, on a related developmental, Nigeria’s AFCON2023 hope suffered a major setback following Boniface’s withdrawal from the tournament.

Pulse Sports reported that the talented striker will return to his German club after picking up an unfortunate injury in Nigeria’s Abu Dhabi camp. 

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Boniface is expected to be out for six weeks, with Nigeria to name a replacement for him ahead of the AFCON kick off. 

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Victor Okoh Boniface John Obi Mikel Nigeria