Despite contributing to 31 goals and helping his team secure both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal titles, Victor Boniface was excluded from the CAF Player of the Year shortlist, sparking outrage among fans.
The Super Eagles striker, who was one of Bayer Leverkusen’s standout performers during the 2023/24 seasons, was surprisingly left out of the final list for the 2024 CAF African Player of the Year award.
Victor had an outstanding campaign, netting 21 goals and providing 10 assists in 34 matches, playing a pivotal role in Leverkusen’s success in both domestic competitions.
Although he missed the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to injury, Victor started this current season in top form, scoring 7 goals and assisting once in 10 appearances.
The Nigerian forward had previously expressed confidence in his chances of competing with fellow countryman Ademola Lookman for the prestigious award, making his exclusion from the final 10 shortlist even more surprising.
Fans in Nigeria and beyond were quick to express their dissappointment, with many feeling that Boniface had been unfairly snubbed. His absence from the list which included Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong, became a trending topic on social media.
Many spporters believe the 24-year-old’s achievements were unjustly overlooked, with accusations that CAF had “robbed” him of well-deserved recognition.
To read more stories like this, click sports.