Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface's patience snapped in a recorded altercation with a Bayer Leverkusen teammate during their dominant win against Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
Nigerian striker Victor Boniface found himself at the centre of a heated altercation with teammate Emiliano Buendia in a dramatic turn of events during Bayer Leverkusen's convincing 4-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
The incident occurred in stoppage time, as both players attempted to capitalise on a scoring opportunity in the Frankfurt box on Saturday.
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The tension arose when Buendia's initial shot was mishandled, and Boniface's follow-up attempt was obstructed by the Argentine midfielder.
Despite managing to get a shot off, which was blocked by a Frankfurt defender, Boniface was visibly upset by Buendia's interference.
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The situation escalated quickly, with Boniface warning Buendia and then shoving him. The confrontation was eventually diffused by teammate Nordi Mukiele, who intervened to prevent further escalation.
Boniface's frustration can be attributed to his recent lack of playing time. He has been benched for three consecutive matches, including a 90-minute stint on the sidelines during a draw against Bayern Munich.
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This has limited the Super Eagles striker to just 20 minutes of action over the past three games and he was not happy with the missed chance to impress his coach.
Meanwhile, his teammate Nathan Tella stole the show by opening the scoring for Leverkusen, contributing to a dominant performance that kept the pressure on league rivals Bayern Munich.
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Tella's goal was part of a flurry of three goals within eight minutes in the first half, setting the stage for a comfortable win.
Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has downplayed the incident, emphasising that such confrontations are normal in football and that the team's focus remains on upcoming matches, particularly their crucial Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.
Alonso noted, "He wanted to score a goal. It's not a problem. We'll talk about it. The most important thing is the team, the performance and the result.”
Despite the altercation, Leverkusen's victory highlights their readiness for the upcoming challenges, including their Champions League tie against Bayern.