The 23-year-old sustained an injury during Nigeria’s 2-1 home loss to Rwanda in their recent 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
His German club revealed that Boniface has sustained a thigh injury, ruling him out of action for the Black and Reds, including key league matches and upcoming Champions League fixtures.
The Nigerian has been in fine form for Xabi Alonso’s side, netting eight goals in 15 appearances across all competitions in the 2024-25 season.
How long will Boniface be out for?
Boniface’s outlook seems relatively optimistic for Bayer Leverkusen, although he is likely to be sidelined for the remainder of the year.
"We will have to see how long he will be out. It is a shame," Alonso told the media ahead of Saturday’s match against Heidenheim. "He has a thigh injury. For tomorrow, for Salzburg and maybe a bit longer. We will have to wait and see.
"It is too early to say but we hope he can still play this year. We have to see with the recovery and improvement but it is not a matter of six or eight weeks."
The former Bodo/Glimt striker is facing his second significant injury of 2024, having previously been sidelined with an abductor issue earlier in the year.
What does the injury mean for Bayer Leverkusen & Nigeria?
Boniface’s injury is a major blow to Bayer Leverkusen’s ambitions of defending their Bundesliga title.
His contributions as a leading goalscorer and focal point in attack have been instrumental, and his absence could disrupt the team’s momentum and scoring efficiency in pivotal matches. Manager Alonso will miss the Nigerian’s ability to lead the line and create scoring opportunities.
With Amine Adli also out due to injury, Patrik Schick may step in, but the team’s depth and capacity to make up for lost ground in the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, and Champions League could be put to the test during his absence.
Although the Super Eagles have no fixtures for the rest of the year, a delayed recovery could jeopardize Boniface’s spot in the three-time Africa champions’ squad for next year’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
When will Boniface be fit & which games will he miss?
The injury is not considered serious enough to keep Boniface sidelined for a long period.
While it remains uncertain exactly when he will return to full fitness, he will miss some crucial games for his side. Listed below are those matches.
November 23 – Bayer Leverkusen vs Heidenheim- Bundesliga
November 26 – Bayer Leverkusen vs Salzburg - Champions League
November 30 - Union Berlin vs Bayer Leverkusen - Bundesliga
December 3 - Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen - DFB Pokal
December 7 - Bayer Leverkusen vs St. Pauli - Bundesliga
December 10 - Bayer Leverkusen vs Inter Milan - Champions League
December 14 - Augsburg vs Bayer Leverkusen - Bundesliga
December 21 - Bayer Leverkusen vs Freiburg – Bundesliga
What has Boniface said?
Despite the disappointing news of his injury, the striker appears to be taking it in stride, as reflected in his latest social media post. On X, he shared a relaxed message, saying, "Just a chill guy," showing that he remains calm and positive despite the setback.
Bayer Leverkusen currently sit in fourth place in the Bundesliga, having earned 17 points from 10 matches. A win on Saturday could help them close the gap on third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt.
They will host Austrian side Salzburg three days later, aiming to recover from their 4-0 loss to Liverpool in their previous match. A strong performance will not only help erase the disappointment of that defeat at Anfield but also strengthen their chances of advancing to the next round.
