Boniface was ruled out of the 2023 AFCON due to injury he sustained in Nigeria’s training camp in Abu Dhabi, UAE
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has explained why Nigeria lost the final of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to hosts, Cote d’Ivoire.
Speaking in Portugal in a recent interview, the football tactician said Bayer Leverkusen striker, Victor Boniface would have made the difference at the tournament but for his injury.
The Bundesliga striker was ruled out of the 2023 AFCON due to injury he sustained in the team’s training camp in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Prior to that, Boniface was tipped to shine at the tournament and Peseiro had planned to use a system that would have seen him partner Victor Osimhen up front.
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However, while recounting the challenges he faced at AFCON, AfricafootUnited quoted Peseiro, who parted ways with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), after talks of contract renewal broke down recently to have said that Nigeria would have won the trophy if Boniface was available.
According to him, the forward,, who can play on both sides of the striker, would have been made the Super Eagles’ ‘invisible’ arc at the tournament.
He said: “I will say that Boniface would have made the difference without injury.
“He was very confident and can play comfortably in our two-man attacking style. He can also play on both sides of the strikers and that would have made him our invisible arc in the tournament.
“Our options to refine our style were limited in his absence.”
Peseiro took Nigeria to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations where he lost to the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire.
