Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, now in charge at Bayer Leverkusen, has stated that Super Eagles attacker Victor Boniface must prove himself to regain a spot in the squad.
The 24-year-old striker was absent as the Bundesliga champions were held to a 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen on Saturday. His omission comes shortly after a failed loan move to AC Milan, with reports suggesting a potential late transfer to West Ham United.
Speaking after the draw, Ten Hag explained that Boniface must earn his place through consistent effort. “Last week he wasn’t there, and therefore he wasn’t in the squad. When he is there, then he can be part of the group,” the Dutch coach told Soccernet.ng. “He trained with us the last two days, but now he has to fight for his place. When he is training every day, the whole week, then he can fight for his position.”
The striker’s current competition comes from Czech forward Patrik Schick, who scored twice against Bremen and has become Ten Hag’s preferred option up front. Schick had already displaced Boniface under former coach Xabi Alonso last season, following Boniface’s impressive debut campaign in the Bundesliga.
Boniface initially starred for Leverkusen, helping the team secure their first-ever Bundesliga title and earning the Rookie of the Season award. However, his attempt to move to the Saudi Pro League at the start of last season strained his relationship with the club hierarchy, complicating his quest for regular first-team football.
The striker’s club challenges have also affected his international career, as he was left out of Nigeria’s final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa. With Schick in form and fully backed by Ten Hag, Boniface faces a significant challenge to regain his position at both club and national level.
