By Dorcas Francis Koji
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface continued his impressive pre-season form with another influential performance as Bayer Leverkusen came from behind to defeat Kickers Offenbach 3-1 in a pre-season friendly.
The Nigerian forward made an immediate impact after coming on at half-time, injecting pace, creativity and attacking energy into Leverkusen’s frontline as the Bundesliga side completed a convincing second-half comeback.
Boniface played a decisive role in two of Leverkusen’s goals, showcasing the vision and composure that have made him one of the club’s most exciting attacking talents.
His first major contribution came when he controlled the ball brilliantly before driving into the penalty area and setting up Jonas Hofmann, who calmly finished to give Leverkusen a 2-1 lead.
The 25-year-old was again at the heart of the action moments later, finding Hofmann in space before the German winger delivered a cross that was converted from close range by Afonso Moreira to seal the victory.
Boniface nearly crowned his outstanding display with a goal of his own in the 65th minute after combining effectively with Moreira and Ezequiel Fernández, but his close-range effort was blocked before it could find the back of the net.
The latest performance follows his impressive two-goal display in Leverkusen’s opening pre-season victory over Sportfreunde Bamberg, further strengthening his case for a key role under the club’s new head coach, Carles Martínez.
After an injury-disrupted spell that affected his momentum and sparked questions about his long-term future, Boniface appears to have rediscovered the sharpness and confidence that previously established him among the Bundesliga’s most dangerous forwards.
His recent performances have also earned praise from Bayer Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes, who commended the Nigerian striker’s improved fitness and physical condition during pre-season preparations.
Reports in Germany indicate that Martínez is carefully managing Boniface’s workload to ensure he reaches peak condition ahead of the 2026/27 Bundesliga campaign.
Against Kickers Offenbach, the Super Eagles striker demonstrated encouraging signs of that progress, contributing not only with assists but also through intelligent movement, effective link-up play and a strong defensive work rate.
Although Christian Kofane remains another attacking option after scoring Leverkusen’s first-half equaliser, Boniface’s impressive performances throughout pre-season continue to underline his importance to the team’s attacking plans.
With the new season fast approaching, the Nigerian international will be hoping to maintain his excellent form and establish himself as one of Bayer Leverkusen’s key players as they prepare to compete for domestic and European honours.
Leave a comment