Former Nigerian player calls for patience on Victor Boniface

Victor Boniface is one of the most important players in the Bayer Leverkusen team at the moment and directly contributes to the formation of Xabi Alonso's offensive plans and system.

Dimeji Lawal, the former Super Eagles player, insisted on the need to support Victor Boniface with his current performance with the Nigeria national team, after the Bayern Leverkusen striker received a lot of criticism as a result of his lackluster performance there.

Still, taking into account 11 matches for the Nigeria national team, Boniface managed to score only one goal.

Lawal, in opting to support Boniface, likened the Leverkusen striker to Nwankwo Kanu, who also struggled to impress during AFCON tournaments and said: "I don’t think anyone should blame Boniface for his inability to translate his goal scoring form for Bayer Leverkusen to the Super Eagles. We have seen it often times that players score goals for their respective clubs in Europe, but when it comes to African football, they are not productive.

I am not saying Boniface is not good enough. If he had been dropped out of that team, and we lost that game without him, people would ask Eguavoen questions. That’s why it is difficult for coaches to make decisions.

Remember that Kanu Nwankwo played in all the Nations Cup before he retired, but he never scored a single goal. Will anyone tell me any coach inviting Kanu is stupid? However, I believe Boniface will rediscover his goal-scoring form for the Super Eagles soon.

Watching Boniface score in one of the best leagues in the world is something we all appreciate. And it will be wrong not to invite him to the senior national team. I am sure such a coach will be inviting trouble for himself from Nigerians"