Abandoned Super Eagles star suffers knee injury after missing out on AFCON 2025 squad

Nigerian striker Victor Boniface has suffered another setback after picking up a knee injury just days after being left out of Nigeria’s final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Werder Bremen forward is now set to miss his side’s Bundesliga clash against VfB Stuttgart, compounding a difficult period marked by fitness struggles and international disappointment.

Werder Bremen have confirmed that Boniface will be unavailable for Sunday’s home game after sustaining a knee contusion during a challenge.

Head coach Horst Steffen explained the incident on Friday, revealing that it was a painful knee-to-knee collision that forced the Nigerian attacker out of contention.

While the severity of the injury remains unclear, the club has not yet provided a timeline for his return, leaving uncertainty over his short-term availability.

Boniface’s absence adds to Bremen’s growing injury list, with Mitchell Weiser, Felix Agu, and Maximilian Wöber also sidelined. The mounting absences are expected to present tactical headaches for Steffen as his side prepares for a crucial Bundesliga fixture.

The injury comes at a frustrating time for Boniface, who has endured a challenging campaign since joining Werder Bremen on loan from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.

The 24-year-old is yet to score in the league, struggling to find rhythm at the German club amid recurring fitness issues.

Internationally, the striker was recently named in Eric Chelle’s 54-man provisional list for AFCON 2025 but failed to make the final 28-man squad announced on Thursday.

With both club and country setbacks now colliding, Boniface will be hoping for a swift recovery to reignite his season and stake a claim for future Super Eagles call-ups.