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Super Eagles star Victor Boniface will miss Bayer Leverkusen first game of the year
Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface will miss the team's first game of 2025 against Borussia Dortmund on Friday, January 10th, after experiencing a setback in his recovery from a thigh injury.
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Boniface has been sidelined since November 2024, missing the club’s last nine matches. While he appeared to be nearing a return, reports from Germany indicate he will need more time to recover.
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"Bayer Leverkusen has confirmed that Victor Boniface’s return to match action has been delayed due to a minor setback in his rehab phase," Leverkusen-focused blog WerkselfXtra via X.
The news was initially first reported on Sunday by Sky Sports News reporter Marlon Irlbacher.
The setback means Boniface is likely to miss not only the Dortmund clash but also the subsequent game against Mainz on January 14th. A firm return date has yet to be confirmed.
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Despite Boniface's absence, Leverkusen has continued to perform well.
Manager Xabi Alonso recently addressed the upcoming competition between Boniface and Patrik Schick upon the Nigerian’s return.
"I have difficulty in choosing players to use in all the positions, I like to have it. What we want is that everyone is fighting for a position to get better and help the team," Alonso told German-based Nigerian journalist Oma Akatugba.
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Alonso emphasized the importance of having both strikers in top form.
“We’ll have so many games, all the players will have their moments. But the most important is that in the same way that Patrik Schick is in good form, we want to have Boniface in good form as well. We want him fully fit so that he forgets his injuries, he is working hard on the pitch, and scoring goals," he said.
Boniface made a strong start to the season for Leverkusen, contributing eight goals and one assist in 15 appearances after joining from Royale Union SG last year, where he scored 21 goals and provided 10 assists in 34 appearances.
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