Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface, has openly shared his thoughts and emotions about his exclusion from the prestigious Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Player of the Year award shortlist. The talented footballer, who had an outstanding season, spoke candidly about the matter in an interview with renowned sports journalist Pooja Media on Sunday.
It can be recalled that in October, CAF released the much-anticipated shortlist of nominees for the Men’s Player of the Year award. Among the celebrated names were Nigerian footballers Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong, who earned their spots on the list due to their performances. However, prominent players like Victor Boniface and Victor Osimhen, despite their remarkable form, were noticeably missing from the final selection of 10 nominees.
Speaking on this omission, Boniface expressed his feelings, highlighting his stellar achievements during the season. While admitting he was not deeply upset, the striker conveyed a sense of disappointment, as he strongly believed his exceptional performance warranted recognition in the prestigious award.
“Not sad, but disappointed because I had an amazing season last season, so for me not to be there… maybe the award is for African players in AFCON, I don’t know. But in general, if it’s for African Player of the Year, I think I had a great season,” Boniface stated.
Despite the setback, the Super Eagles star maintained a positive attitude, emphasizing his dedication to personal growth and improvement as a player. He further added, “I don’t need to prove to anybody; I don’t really care about awards and stuff. But of course, as a football player, I want to improve, I want to do more for myself.”
Boniface’s exclusion from the CAF awards shortlist has sparked conversations among football enthusiasts, with many questioning the criteria used for selecting nominees. Nevertheless, his focus remains on enhancing his skills and making a greater impact in the football world, both for his club and his national team.
