Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface has expressed confidence in his chances of winning the coveted African Player of the Year award, placing himself ahead of fellow Nigerian star Ademola Lookman in the race for the prestigious honour.
The Bayer Leverkusen striker, who had a remarkable debut season in German football, shared his ambitions during an interview with SportyTV. Boniface tallied an impressive 21 goals and 10 assists across all competitions, playing a key role in Leverkusen’s triumphs in the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal.
Despite his stellar performances, Boniface faced disappointment in the UEFA Europa League final, where Lookman led Atalanta to victory with a hat-trick. Lookman’s strong season earned him a spot on the Ballon d’Or nomination list, highlighting his position as one of Africa’s top footballers.
READ MORE: No foreign coach! Austin Eguavoen gets Super Eagles job
However, Boniface remains convinced he deserves the African Player of the Year award. “It’s probably between me and Lookman. I’ll go for myself as the African Footballer of the Year; I rate myself that highly,” he stated confidently. “If it’s based on what we did last season, I’d choose myself.”
Boniface also shed light on his Super Eagles teammate Victor Osimhen’s transfer situation, revealing the Napoli striker’s strong desire to move to the English Premier League amid summer links to Chelsea. “There were three parties involved – Napoli, Chelsea, and Osimhen. His mentality is strong, and I know he really wants to play in the Premier League,” Boniface disclosed.
As Boniface continues his impressive form at Leverkusen, with four goals and one assist in his first six games of the season, he remains focused on claiming individual glory and maintaining his rise in African football.
