Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface is set to miss the remainder of 2024 after suffering a thigh injury during Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to Rwanda [/b]in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The 23-year-old sustained the injury after a challenging match and was substituted in the 89th minute for Umar Sadiq. Boniface's injury has since been confirmed as a torn muscle fiber, leaving him sidelined for an extended period.
According to reports from Sky Germany, Boniface’s injury is significant, and he is expected to be out for an undisclosed number of weeks, although Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso shared some optimism ahead of their match against Heidenheim. Alonso, while cautious, mentioned that the forward will miss several games, but the exact duration remains unclear. He expressed hope that Boniface could potentially return to action later this year but emphasized that it wouldn’t be a lengthy absence of six to eight weeks.
This injury marks Boniface’s second significant setback of the year. Earlier, an abductor injury had kept him out of action for much of the second half of the previous season. Despite these challenges, Boniface has been in excellent form this season, contributing six goals and one assist in 10 Bundesliga appearances, showcasing his importance to Bayer Leverkusen’s attack.
In the absence of Boniface, Leverkusen now looks to their other attacking options, namely Patrik Schick and summer signing Martin Terrier, to fill the gap. However, neither has been able to replicate Boniface's form and impact so far this season, placing more pressure on the duo to step up. As Bayern Munich leads the Bundesliga standings, Schick and Terrier are expected to find form quickly to help keep Leverkusen’s title hopes alive and remain competitive in the league.
