11 games, no goals: What Eguavoen said about Victor Boniface's poor form for Super Eagles

Speaking after the Super Eagles' 2-1 loss to Rwanda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Austin Eguavoen addressed the poor form of Victor Boniface. 

The Bayer Leverkusen striker has failed to score in eleven appearances for the Super Eagles, drawing a blank once again as Nigeria suffered their only defeat in the AFCON qualifiers and their first-ever loss to the Amavubi.

Boniface was handed a start but failed to impress as he missed a couple of goalscoring opportunities which eventually proved costly for Nigeria.

The performance of the 23-year-old has not been well received as there are suggestions that he should be dropped from the squad, having continually disappointed in the colours of Nigeria.

Eguavoen has dismissed the suggestions, stating that the Bayer Leverkusen striker will remain a part of the squad despite his form..

"Boniface, we all know what he is capable of doing especially in his club and then when he comes back here, we try to give him a lot confidence, a lot of playing time, he is not hitting the back of the net for whatever reason, " Eguavoen said to reporters at the post-match press conference. 

"I have spoken with him personally many times. I am someone who wants to give players confidence. I have done enough, but he is still part of the squad, he will remain part of the squad.”

Boniface has eight goals in 15 outings for Bayer Leverkusen this term which indicates that he knows how to find the back of the net but is struggling to replicate his goalscoring form with the Super Eagles.

It remains to be seen whether Eguavoen will be given the coaching position permanently, but whoever will be at the helm of affairs will need to find a way of getting the best out of last season's Bundesliga Rookie of the Season or drop him from the squad.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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