Victor Boniface has expressed his disappointment at not being included in the shortlist for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award.
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Despite a standout season with Bayer Leverkusen, which saw him help the club secure its first-ever Bundesliga title and win the DFB-Pokal, the Nigerian forward was overlooked.
However, Boniface’s Super Eagles teammates, Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong, were nominated for the prestigious award.
Speaking to Nigerian journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, Boniface admitted his disappointment but stressed that he would not dwell on it. He believes his performance last season warranted a place on the shortlist.
“If it’s based on what I did last season, I should be disappointed,” Boniface said. “But I don’t stress about it.”
When asked who he would choose to win the award, Boniface backed Lookman, saying, “If I’m to pick the winner, it would be Lookman 100 percent. But if I were there, I’d pick myself.”
On the possibility of another team going unbeaten in the Bundesliga, Boniface was cautious. “I don’t know if we would ever see a team go unbeaten in the Bundesliga again,” he said. “I can’t see the future, but I hope not.”
Boniface was also in action for Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Thursday’s 2025 AFCON qualifiers, where they drew 1-1 against Benin Republic.