AFCON2025 Qualifier: Why Boniface Struggles For Goals In Super Eagles – Onazi
Former Nigeria international Ogenyi Onazi recently spoke on the problems of Victor Boniface in the Super Eagles and why the forward has not been able to score for the Eagles as he does for his German club.
He said,” in our country whatever you say, people will interpret it differently. Whatever I say on this issue is my personal opinion and the way I feel about it.
For me, as we all know, right now, we have the most talented national team, the best we have had in a long while and they ought to do so well. Unfortunately, things are not going the way they are supposed to.
Speaking specifically on Victor Boniface goal drought in the national team he said, “Victor Boniface is an amazing player. The national team and clubside are two completely different things entirely. In the clubside, Boniface has players who are conversant with his style of play. They see themselves every day, even more than they see their girlfriends or family members. So they blend every day. If he doesn’t score in the clubside then one needs to ask questions.
Onazi said the national team is different. “In the national team, when they come, under three days they play a match. So how do you expect them to blend well enough or understand themselves to give their best?
Why is Osimhen scoring?
“You may ask, why do other players like Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman score for both club and country? It is because of the reason I started with; the national team is different from the clubside. There are some people who are cut for the national team and can do it anywhere, any day. They have different characteristics. While Victor Boniface is a nice finisher, Osimhen is rugged and can be described as a one man riot squad.
For the kind of players we have up front(in the attack): like Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon or Samuel Chukwueze; these are the kind of players who hold onto the ball, dribble, cut in and shoot… very different from his colleagues at kind of players who hold onto the ball, dribble, cut in and shoot… very different from his colleagues at Leverkusen who know where he is running to and can release the ball to him without looking. These are the characteristics and things we need to know why he is not scoring for national team.
In the national team, Victor works so hard that sometimes he drops deep to collect the ball so that he is not left isolated up front without the ball. I think our midfield players need to really do more to help him. For me basically, when I was playing(I’m still playing, though), whenever I get the ball my first option is always the striker. When I am playing I always tell you(striker) to make the move because you are my first option. It is only when I look at you and realize you are not ready then I start to look at other options. This is my personal opinion.”
