Super Eagles interim manager Augustine Eguavoen has explained why Victor Boniface has struggled in front of goal for the national team, Afrosport reports.
The Bayer Leverkusen forward started in Friday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya in Uyo and was unable to find the back of the net, with Lazio midfielder and substitute Fisayo Dele-Bashiru netting the vital goal.
It once again called into question Boniface and his problem of replicating his goalscoring form at club level with the national team.
Eguavoen had backed the former Union Saint-Gilloise forward to score against the Libyans before the game but afterwards explained that the 23-year-old’s decision-making has been letting him down. The ex-international is however still confident that the Bundesliga champion will score regularly for the national team.
“Boniface is a very good striker, a clinical finisher, but he has struggled in national colors,” Eguavoen said at his post-match press conference after Nigeria defeated Libya.
“Sometimes, these chances don’t come. I remember it happened in Rwanda just like today. When you get half chances, players like Romario would toe-poke the ball.
“But Boniface likes to dress and dress and then defenders recover. If he decides on time, Boniface will score a lot of goals.”
The Super Eagles will now turn their attention to Tuesday’s return leg against the Libyans in Benina where victory will seal their place in next year’s finals in Morocco.
