Victor Boniface’s recent social media activity led to widespread reaction after the Bayer Leverkusen striker appeared to announce his retirement from international football, Footynaija.com reports.
..., made shortly after Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Russia in a friendly match, led to confusion about his future with the Super Eagles, especially as it was taken down shortly after going live.
In the now-deleted message, the 24-year-old wrote:
“Proud to play for my country, and a dream for me also. Really enjoyed every moment – the good and the bad. Thanks a lot. Thank you all. I don hang boot.”
The message was enough to prompt speculations, with fans unsure whether Boniface was expressing frustration or genuinely walking away from the national team.
While the striker is yet to issue a personal clarification, PUNCH Sports Extra has now reported that ... was never meant to be taken seriously.
“He was just cruising the way he does. Boniface didn’t mean any of that. He must have seen the reaction that followed it and he deleted it as well,” a source close to Boniface told the newspaper.
“He has just started, and the aim is to achieve something with Nigeria.”
The clarification comes as a relief to supporters concerned about losing one of the country’s most promising attacking talents. Boniface has yet to score a major goal in his 13 appearances for the Super Eagles, but his potential has never been in doubt.
However, his national team journey has been disrupted by injury on more than one occasion. He missed the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after suffering an abductor injury in the final training session before the tournament in Ivory Coast.
Also, he was unavailable during the November 2024 qualifier against Rwanda in Uyo, again due to injury, and has faced lengthy spells on the sidelines as a result. These setbacks have limited his rhythm and form for the national side.
At club level, the 2024/25 season brought its own challenges. He featured in just 19 Bundesliga matches, scoring 8 goals and providing 2 assists, in a campaign where he found himself out of the starting line-up for several key fixtures.
