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Despite having 31 goal contributions and winning the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal, Boniface was omitted from the CAF Player of the Year shortlist
Fans across Nigeria and beyond have expressed outrage after Super Eagles star Victor Boniface was shockingly left out of the final shortlist for the 2024 CAF African Player of the Year award.
Boniface, who had been tipped as one of the favourites following a stellar season with Bayer Leverkusen, was omitted despite his remarkable performances during the 2023/24 season.
Boniface’s stellar season at Bayer Leverkusen
Boniface had a standout 2023/24 season, helping Bayer Leverkusen secure both the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal trophy.
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The striker was key for Die Schwarzroten, scoring 21 goals and providing 10 assists across 34 matches, making him one of the most influential players in Europe last season.
Even though he missed the 2023 AFCON due to injury, Boniface started the current season in blistering form, netting seven goals and adding one assist in just 10 matches.
The Nigerian striker had earlier backed himself to battle compatriot Ademola Lookman for the award, so his exclusion from the final 10 shortlist must have come as a disappointment.
Fans react to Boniface snub
The snub has left fans feeling that Boniface was unfairly overlooked, with many taking to social media to voice their frustration.
Following the release of the final shortlist, which included fellow Nigerian players Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong, Boniface’s absence quickly became a hot topic.
Fans felt that the 24-year-old striker’s achievements had been unjustly disregarded, with many accusing CAF of "robbing" him of deserved recognition.
Apart from the Nigerian contingent, other players who made the final shortlist include, AFCON final hero Simon Adingra, South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy, DR Congo’s Chancel Mbemba, Algeria’s Amine Gouiri, Morocco’s Soufiane Rahimi, and Burkina Faso’s Edmond Tapsoba
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