Football
Boniface's Super Eagles’ Goal Search: Akwuegbu Wants Nigerians to Exercise Patient
Despite Victor Boniface’s goal drought for Nigeria, former Super Eagles striker Ben Akwuegbu believes the Bayer Leverkusen star needs more time to find his form on the international stage.
Image Credits: Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Super Eagles and Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface has been a revelation in the Bundesliga, but his impressive club form hasn't translated to success with the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
With three games under his belt, Boniface is still searching for his first goal or assist for the national team. Despite his goal drought for the Eagles, Boniface has registered six goals in nine league appearances for his club.
Having played few games, many believe he ought to have acclimatised with the team and transition his high-flying performance in the German Bundesliga to the Super Eagles.
This disparity has sparked heated debates about his competency and whether he can challenge Victor Osimhen for a starting spot.
Boniface has been chanced to lead Nigeria’s attack twice and played a total of 191 minutes without a shot on target. The striker has been invited for the November international break roaster for the AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
But Nigerian former player Ben Akwuegbu has opined that Boniface needs more time to break into the national team. Akwuegbu told SportsBoom.com via a phone conversation that playing for the national team comes with a bigger pressure than club football because of the competition.
According to Ben Akwuegbu, a former Super Eagles striker who won the Austrian league and super cup with Grazer Ak believes that Boniface will get his international goal shortly.
I think Boniface is a fantastic striker and he has scored a lot of goals in the German league.
Ben Akwuegbu
Can the Leverkusen Star Breakthrough in the Super Eagles?
Boniface's goal drought in the Super Eagles isn't peculiar to the 23-year-old striker. One of the greatest strikers to have ever played for the Super Eagles, late Rasheedi Yekini played for three years in the national team before scoring his debut goal.
Yekini got his first cap in 1982 and then scored his debut goal three years later, in 1985 against Kenya during the World Cup qualifiers. He further became Nigeria's first player to score at the world cup, USA 1994 against Bulgaria and highest goalscorer, 37 in 58 appearances.
In Akwuegbu’s words, he buttressed that what Boniface needs is time seeing that he bangs goals in the German league.
“I believe he will do so well in the Super Eagles. So it's just about the matter of time, of course if he score his first goal, he will score more goals you know. Let's keep hoping, when he scores his first goal, I am sure he will start to score, it's always like that, the first goal is important.
First Goal Can Boost Confidence
Akwuegbu further added that the striker will score so many goals as soon as he gets his debut. This could relate to the journey of Rasheedi Yekini in the Super Eagles.
While speaking about his experiences with the National team, Akwuegbu with over 15 goals for Nigeria during a short-spell that cut across helping the Super Eagles to the final of the African Cup of Nations, AFCON in 2000 said his first goal boosted his confidence to score more.
“When I scored my first goal for Nigeria, I was very happy and it boosted my confidence and it went on.”
“I am optimistic, he will score so many goals for Nigeria. He's doing well and he should stay focused and he shouldn't put pressure on himself, he will still score goals, I am optimistic.”
Jeremiah Omoniyi is a developmental sports Journalist with over five years of experience writing about grassroots and international football and sporting events. Jeremiah’s forte in sports journalism are feature writing and interviews which he has done to a reasonable amount within his home country, Nigeria.