AFCON 2023: Nigeria suffers Boniface injury blow

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have suffered a significant injury setback ahead of AFCON 2023, as in-form Victor Boniface is reported to have picked up an injury during the country’s preparatory activities.

There have been rumours of the 23-year-old struggling with fitness issues in the past hours, but it has now been confirmed that the Bayern Leverkusen star has picked up a groin injury expected to keep him sidelined for the next six weeks.

⛔️🇳🇬 Victor Boniface will miss the AFCON for Nigeria due to groin injury, he’s expected to be out for six weeks.

Massive blow for the Super Eagles and one more injury to manage for Bayer Leverkusen. pic.twitter.com/OF5sDWWv9J

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 8, 2024

Boniface has also confirmed the setback via his official Instagram account with a caption: “Good luck guys.Wish you guys all the best at Afcon. @ng_supereagles 💔”

The striker has had a great season with Leverkusen so far, scoring 16 goals and registering 8 assists in 23 games— a run that has earned him five straight Rookie of the Month awards in the Bundesliga

Earlier today, Nigeria suffered a 2-0 loss to Guinea in a pre-Afcon match preparation. They’ll now return to Nigeria for a send-forth party slated for Tuesday night before they depart for Cote d’Ivoire to participate in the 34th Africa Cup of Nations starting this weekend.

The three-time African champions will begin their campaign with a match against Equatorial Guinea on January 14th, before facing other Group A contenders —Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea Bissau on the 18th and 22nd respectively.