Bayer 04 Leverkusen centre forward Victor Boniface has had an operation on a groin injury suffered in the build-up to the Africa Cup of Nations, the club has confirmed as gathered by Nigeriasocceernt.com.
The successful operation on the Nigeria international was performed at the Charité hospital in Berlin by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Stöckle who also operated on the two Bayer 04 players Patrik Schick and Arthur.
Boniface will return to Leverkusen this week and start his rehab on Monday at the Werkstatt, the Bayer 04 rehabilitation and training centre.
Boniface suffered a muscle-tendon injury in the right adductor during training with the Super Eagles in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and has since been replaced by OGC Nice striker Terem Moffi.
Reacting to his withdrawal from AFCON 2023, on X, Boniface wrote: "U20 nations cup got injured seven days before the Nations Cup. Super Eagles got injured six days before the Nations Cup. Only God knows why.”
Drawn in Group A with hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will open their bid for a 4th AFCON trophy against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday 14th January, 2024.
By Olaleye Oluwadamilola