Bayer Leverkusen Victor Boniface has been ruled out of the upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations in Cote D’Ivoire.
The 23-year-old forward will miss the tournament due to a muscle injury sustained during training.
The forward missed the friendlies against UAE local side Al Gharbia and Syl National of Guinea.
Medical scans revealed the severity of the injury, necessitating an extended period of recovery.
Boniface, formerly with Union Saint-Gilloise, will now head back to Germany for specialized treatment on a groin injury.
The expected timeline for his recovery is six weeks, effectively sidelining him from the prestigious tournament.
With the star player unavailable, speculation surrounds the choice of his replacement.
Terem Moffi emerges as the front-runner for the position, although the official decision is yet to be announced.
This news compounds Nigeria’s challenges as key player Wilfred Ndidi has already been ruled out of the tournament, and doubts loom over the participation of Leicester City teammate Kelechi Iheanacho.
The Jose Peseiro’s side faces a challenging task in navigating the competition without the contributions of these crucial players.
