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Victor Boniface's potential national team retirement could reshape the Super Eagles' attacking landscape, opening doors for others.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria possess a wealth of attacking talent, with numerous players making significant contributions across Europe's premier football leagues.
Among these formidable forwards, Victor Boniface has consistently stood out, particularly owing to his commendable performances for Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen.
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Recent reports, however, hinting at his "retirement" from the national team, potentially stemming from frustration following a challenging outing against Russia, could signify a pivotal shift in the Super Eagles' attacking hierarchy.
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While Boniface's potential absence would undoubtedly create a void, it simultaneously presents a golden opportunity for other promising forwards to step into more prominent roles.
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In this article, Pulse Sports consider three players who could benefit from a hypothetical Boniface retirement.
Cyriel Dessers
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Cyriel Dessers has been consistently building a compelling case for a more prominent role in the Super Eagles.
His Rangers form has been notably impressive, registering 29 goals in 55 appearances across all competitions in the 2024-25 season, including 18 in the Scottish League, which earned him the Scottish Premiership Golden Boot.
Dessers' versatility, keen goal-scoring instinct and high work rate make him a valuable asset to any attacking line-up, and the forward recently provided an assist for Nigeria's opening goal against Jamaica in the Unity Cup.
Despite his robust club performances, the Rangers frontman has openly articulated his "hurt" and "disappointment" at having only featured in friendly matches for the Super Eagles, never in a competitive game, since his debut in 2020.
The forward acknowledged Victor Osimhen as the "clear number one" but firmly believes his form warrants a place in competitive squads.
Terem Moffi
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Nice striker Terem Moffi is another forward well-placed to benefit from a reshuffled Super Eagles attack if Boniface retires.
Moffi has consistently demonstrated strong goal-scoring capabilities in Ligue 1, notably becoming Nice's top scorer in the 2023-24 season with 11 goals.
Cumulatively, he has contributed 21 goals in 57 appearances for Nice since January 2023.
Crucially, Moffi recently returned to action in March 2025 after suffering a devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in July 2024, which forced him to miss the entire first half of the season.
His return is widely regarded as "great news for both Nice and the Super Eagles".
Moffi's playing style is characterised by his physical presence, technical skill and innate goal-scoring ability. The Nice forward was notably called up to replace an injured Boniface in the 2024 AFCON squad.
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19:10 - 07.04.2023
ANALYSIS Moffi: Nice’s big-game POMO king can stun PSG to reopen Ligue 1 title race
The Nigerian’s understanding of the positions to occupy inside the box makes him a menace to the Parisians on Saturday.
Tolu Arokodare
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Tolu Arokodare is another promising option for the Super Eagles' attack.
Arokodare has enjoyed a breakout season in Belgium, scoring 21 goals in 38 matches across the regular season and championship round in 2025.
His impressive performances earned him the prestigious Ebony Shoe for 2025, an accolade recognising the best player of African heritage in the Belgian Pro League.
In total, he registered 23 goals and seven assists in 44 games across all competitions for Genk in the 2024-25 season.
Arokodare recently opened his Super Eagles goal-scoring account, netting the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Russia. Significantly, this pivotal goal came in the 71st minute, shortly after he replaced Victor Boniface in that very match.
While still considered "relatively new" to the national team setup, Arokodare’s immediate impact in Boniface's stead provides a strong argument for his increased involvement.
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