Ailton Backs Boniface to End Goal Drought

Werder Bremen great Ailton has thrown his weight behind struggling forward Victor Boniface, insisting the Nigerian will soon rediscover his scoring touch. Boniface, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, has yet to score in ten Bundesliga games, providing only two assists and facing growing criticism from fans.

Despite the pressure, Ailton believes the 24-year-old is close to a breakthrough. “I trust him… He’ll score a few more goals. Maybe even one in the derby,” the former Bundesliga top scorer told Bild. He acknowledged the talk around Boniface’s form and fitness but said a single goal could “make the fans and his teammates believe in him again.”

Ailton compared Boniface’s struggles to his own early challenges at Bremen, recalling that his first months were “very difficult” until he adapted to the system. He stressed that while Boniface must put in the hard work, “his teammates have to help him… But in the end, only he himself can score the goal.”

Boniface, included in Nigeria’s provisional 2025 AFCON squad, now hopes to end his barren spell as Bremen prepare for their derby clash with Hamburger SV.