Victor Boniface, a striker for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, has publicly expressed his dissatisfaction at not receiving a nomination for the coveted 2024 CAF Men’s Player award.
Last month, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) revealed a shortlist of ten nominees, including well-known figures like William Troost-Ekong and Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface’s international teammates.
Despite his exceptional performances that led to a remarkable season for Bayer Leverkusen, where he played a pivotal role in securing the club’s first-ever Bundesliga title and the DFB Pokal, Boniface found himself excluded from the nominee list.
This exclusion has been met with surprise and regret, especially considering his significant contributions to the field.
“It’s certainly disappointing not to be recognized in the shortlist,” Victor Boniface remarked during an interview with BBC’s Oluwashina Okeleji. “Looking back at my performances last season, I believe I had a strong case for consideration, so it’s hard not to feel let down. However, I try not to dwell on it too much.”
When asked about who he would consider worthy of the award, Boniface was quick to express his admiration for his teammate Lookman.
“If I had to choose the winner, it would undoubtedly be Lookman, 100 per cent,” he stated. “But if I were given the chance to select the nominees myself, I would certainly include my name among them.”