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By Abiodun Adewale
Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has been dealt another injury blow with his final 25-man squad for the 2023 AFCON, after in-form Bayer Leverkusen striker, Victor Boniface, picked up a groin injury which reportedly ruled him out of the tournament, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Boniface’s injury comes four days to the start of the tournament which holds from January 13 to February 11 in Ivory Coast.
The 23-year-old picked up the knock during their training camp in Dubai and was left out of the team’s two build up games ahead of the AFCON – the 12-0 drubbing of a Dubai club on Sunday and the 2-0 loss against Guinea on Monday.
According to reports, the results of the scan he had in Dubai showed he would be out for a few weeks and he will return to his club in Germany for recovery.
As a result, Boniface joins Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi as Nigeria’s absentee despite making the final 25-man roaster, which was released December 29.
While Ndidi has been replaced with Antwerp’s Alhassan Yusuf, Peseiro, who picked 25 players despite having the option to make his final list 27 will now have to pick a replacement for the Leverkusen man.
Other players available to replace him ahead of Nigeria’s first match against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday are Terem Moffi who was initially left out of the final squad, Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella and Paul Onuachu.
Meanwhile, Kelechi Iheanacho is also in a late fitness race ahead of the tournament leaving Peseiro with Victor Osimhen and Sadiq Umar as the only strikers available for selection.
Due to his recovery, Iheanacho didn’t join the team in Dubai as he hoped to join them in Lagos before departing for Ivory Coast.
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, has ranked Boniface among the best strikers in the world.
“He (Boniface) will become a complete striker in the next couple of years. He has the physique, he is quick, good on the ball, technically very good and it’s difficult to see strikers that are that big and strong and powerful and then good on the ball as well,” Mikel said on Obionepodcast.
“His assists as well, not just scoring goals, is something that will make this kid special, really, really special. I can’t wait to see what his journey will be in the next couple of years.”