Victor Boniface returned to Bayer Leverkusen with a bang after another uneventful international break with Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The 24-year-old striker found the net in Leverkusen’s 3-1 victory over Bochum at the BayArena on Friday, marking a triumphant comeback to club football.
Boniface endured a frustrating international window, playing just nine minutes across two games as Nigeria picked up four points against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
But back in Germany, he wasted no time reminding everyone of his quality.
For the first time in months, Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso started Boniface and. a rare pairing alongside Czech forward Patrik Schick, a tactical shift that paid off handsomely.
After Alejandro Grimaldo’s stunning 20th-minute curler gave Leverkusen the lead, Bochum hit back through Felix Passlack’s brilliant volley in the 26th minute, setting up a tense battle.
Despite controlling possession, Leverkusen struggled to break through in the first half. But after the restart, Boniface made his presence felt.
On the hour mark, he pounced from close range after Piero Hincapié’s flick off a Grimaldo free-kick, with VAR confirming the goal.
He nearly doubled his tally in the 80th minute after a perfectly threaded pass from Granit Xhaka and a Jeremie Frimpong assist, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Amine Adli eventually secured the win in the 87th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to give the Bundesliga champions a comfortable cushion.
Boniface’s display was a stark contrast to his underwhelming contributions to Nigeria, where he struggled to make an impact.
Yet, in his first Bundesliga start in seven matches, he showed his hunger and sharpness, much to the delight of Leverkusen fans.
For Super Eagles supporters, it’s a familiar frustration an immense talent yet to fully shine on the international stage. But for Leverkusen, Boniface’s resurgence is a timely boost as they continue their title defense.
