'I can show you' - Boniface shares proof he executed Thierry Henry-inspired fake shot pass before UCL clash

Victor Boniface has shared proof that his Thierry Henry-inspired fake shot pass during Bayer Leverkusen's 4-0 victory over Feyenoord on the UEFA Champions League opening matchday wasn't a pan in the flash.

Boniface deceitfully attempted to pass with his right foot but eventually flicked the ball with his left foot to Jeremie Frimpong who passed to Alejandro Grimaldo to give Bayer Leverkusen a two-goal cushion in the encounter.

The Super Eagles striker went viral as a result despite not being credited for the assist to the goal and not scoring in the game.

This came as no surprise to his manager, Xabi Alonso, and his teammates Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz, who revealed after the game that he had been pulling off the trick in training.

Asked in an interview whether he meant to pull off the pass, the 23-year-old proved that it wasn't the first time that he had attempted the fake shot pass in a game.

"I can show you. I have been doing this pass. This is the pass that led to an assist when I was in Norway," Boniface told SportyTV, while pointing at his phone. 

After Boniface was asked to bring the phone a bit closer, he added: "I did this pass when I was in Norway. I have been doing this even when I was playing grassroots football in Nigeria.

"People that really know me know this is nothing new, even in training at Leverkusen, I do this every time.

"I did it in the Bundesliga but why it went crazy was because it led to something. Normally when you do skills like this, it's when you are leading 3-0, 4-0, you do this in the midfield.

"We are leading 1-0 and I did this and it led to a goal but it's something I have been doing for a long time.”

Besides his clinical ability, the Nigeria international is also known for his flair, which makes him one of the most entertaining strikers in European football at the moment.

This has been proven by the reliable statistical website Whoscored, which considers dribbling as one of his strengths, and as a result, it is not beyond a player of his quality to attempt the fake-shot pass successfully.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com