Former Flying Eagles coach Fatai Amoo has emphasized the need for Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen to identify a creative midfielder who can effectively unlock striker Victor Boniface. This comes in light of Boniface’s struggles since making his debut for Nigeria in September 2023.
Despite being a promising talent at Bayer Leverkusen, Boniface has often played second fiddle to Victor Osimhen, who has been sidelined by injuries. Although he has been given opportunities to shine, his recent performances have left much to be desired. In Nigeria’s last outing against Libya, Boniface’s impact was minimal, and the team’s breakthrough came only after his substitution.
Eguavoen has consistently shown faith in Boniface, believing that the 23-year-old will soon find his scoring touch. However, Amoo suggests a different approach to enhance Boniface’s contributions on the field. He pointed out the current lack of creativity in Nigeria’s midfield, which has hindered Boniface’s ability to convert opportunities.
“Our defence has some stability, but our biggest problem is the midfield in terms of creativity,” Amoo stated during an interview with Brila FM. He further lamented the absence of a player reminiscent of Jay-Jay Okocha, asserting that Nigeria needs someone with the qualities of Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, or Martin Ødegaard.
Amoo noted, “When you have players who can destroy defenders with dribbling abilities, like Ejuke (Chidera), it can significantly improve the team.” He questioned how many clear-cut chances were created for Boniface, urging the need for through passes that could set him up for goals.
As Nigeria prepares for the second leg against Libya on Tuesday, Boniface is expected to lead the attack once more. Eguavoen has already hinted at a message of encouragement for the young striker, and fans will be hoping he can finally break his scoring drought against the Mediterranean Knights.