Nigerian striker Victor Boniface was the hero for Bayer Leverkusen as they staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Koln 3-2 in the DFB Pokal quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Boniface, who came off the bench in the 76th minute, scored the winning goal in the 98th minute, securing Leverkusen’s place in the semifinals.
The match was a thrilling encounter, with Koln taking a 2-0 lead through goals from Damion Downs and Linton Maina.
However, Leverkusen fought back, with Patrik Schick scoring twice to level the score at 2-2 and send the match into extra time.
Boniface’s goal in the 98th minute sealed the win for Leverkusen, who will now face Werder Bremen in the semifinals.
Boniface’s match-winning display drew widespread praise from fans and pundits, particularly from Nigerian football supporters.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria hailed Boniface on social media, tweeting: “Super Sub Victor Boniface came off the bench to grab the winner for Leverkusen against Koln in the DFB-Pokal last night.”
Coach Xabi Alonso commended the team’s resilience, stating: “It was a very tough game against a very good opponent. But we showed a good reaction. It was maybe not our best game, but we played with a big heart and fought until the last minute.”
Boniface’s goal against Koln was his second in back-to-back games for Leverkusen, and he will look to continue his scoring form in the semifinals.
See also Victor Boniface Jokes About Hanging Up Boots After Underwhelming Performance "The 24-year-old Super Eagles forward made the announcement after Nigeria's 1-1 draw against Russia in an international friendly match in Moscow on Friday" By Samuel Akpan Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface took to social media to announce his retirement from international football, only to delete the post minutes later and share a meme hinting it was all a joke. The 24-year-old Super Eagles forward made the announcement after Nigeria's 1-1 draw against Russia in an international friendly match in Moscow on Friday. In his Instagram post, Boniface expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play for his country, saying, "Proud to play for my country and a dream for me also. Really enjoyed every moment, the good and the bad. Thanks a lot. "Thank you all. I don hang boot." However, fans were not convinced, given his history of social media jokes and lighthearted antics. The international friendly match between Russia and Nigeria ended in a 1-1 draw. Russia took the lead in the 27th minute when Semi Ajayi scored an own goal, deflecting a cross from Danil Krugovoy into the net. Despite dominating the game, Nigeria struggled to find the back of the net until Tolu Arokodare, who replaced Boniface in the 61st minute, scored the equalizer in the 71st minute. Arokodare's goal was a testament to his impact on the game, and it salvaged a draw for the Super Eagles. Nigeria's goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, also made crucial saves to prevent Russia from scoring further. The draw maintained Eric Chelle's unbeaten record as Super Eagles coach, with three wins and two draws so far. Boniface's performance against Russia was another underwhelming display, sparking criticism from fans and pundits. He failed to score or create significant chances, leading to his substitution in favour of Arokodare. Persecondnews notes that the striker has yet to score for the Super Eagles, despite playing 13 games for the national team.
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