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Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface has been ruled out of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) due to injury, dealing a major blow to Nigeria’s preparations.
The 23-year-old is the latest member of the Super Eagles squad to be injured ahead of the tournament, which begins Jan. 13 in Abidjan.
Nice striker Terem Moffi has been keeping an eye on updating Boniface, pending approval from the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and an agreement with French Ligue 1 club for the player.
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Boniface now joins a developing roster of Nigerian players who have been forced to miss AFCON 2023 due to injury, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi and Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Ndidi’s Leicester teammate who missed the Super Eagles’ educational camp, is expected to sign up with the rest of the team in Ivory Coast.
Boniface has been in good form for his German club with 10 goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga this season, and is in the running to be named Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for the fifth time in a row.
He picked up the injury in Nigeria’s training camp in Abu Dhabi and was absent from the Super Eagles 2-0 friendly loss to Guinea on Monday.
He shared his sadness with his fans on X, after also missing the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations due to injury.
Nigeria will begin their search for a fourth Afcon name in a Group A match against Equatorial Guinea on January 14.
The West Africans will face Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau in the organising phase.