Mustapha Habeeb
November 24th, 2024
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has refused to blame Nigeria’s coach Augustine Eguavoen and his staff for Victor Boniface’s injury. Instead, Alonso subtly criticized the Super Eagles striker for not taking precautions after feeling slight pains in his thigh.
According to German daily Kicker, Boniface did not go into the AFCON qualifying match against Rwanda injured, nor did he keep his problems secret from Eguavoen. Alonso explained the events leading up to the injury, saying: “No, he had no problems after the Bochum game.
“In the first game for Nigeria he played for 15 minutes, in the second he felt something after 60 minutes and continued playing. Maybe he shouldn’t have done that.” Alonso’s comments suggest that Boniface may have exacerbated the injury by continuing to play.
Bayer Leverkusen will now be without Boniface for several games. “He will miss a few games. We will see how long,” said Xabi Alonso during a press conference on Friday.
Boniface has already been ruled out of the match against FC Heidenheim and the Champions League game against Salzburg on Tuesday.
The injury is a setback for both Boniface and Bayer Leverkusen, who will be hoping for a speedy recovery.