Victor Boniface faces mounting pressure at Bayer Leverkusen after being dropped to the bench in favour of Patrik Schick, with manager Erik ten Hag issuing a blunt challenge for the Nigerian forward to reclaim his place.
Boniface was left out of Leverkusen’s 3-3 draw with Werder Bremen and finds himself in a precarious position under Ten Hag, who recently replaced Xabi Alonso.
Speaking about the 24-year-old striker’s absence, the Dutch coach was forthright: “Last week he wasn’t here, so he wasn’t in the squad. When he’s here, he can be part of the group,” Ten Hag said.
The manager went further, making it clear that the Nigerian international will need to earn his opportunities: “He’s been training with us for the past two days, but now he has to fight for his place. If he trains every day, all week, he can fight for his place.”
The message leaves Boniface with no illusions about his standing at the Bundesliga champions, who are counting on competition to drive performances.
Schick’s resurgence has only heightened the challenge for Boniface. The Czech striker has rediscovered his sharpness in front of goal, netting twice against Bremen and reclaiming his role as Leverkusen’s leading attacking threat.
Even under former boss Alonso, Schick had overtaken Boniface in the pecking order, a sharp contrast to Boniface’s dazzling start in Germany, where he helped deliver Leverkusen’s historic first Bundesliga title and was named Rookie of the Season.
Boniface’s dip in form is compounded by his brief links to a move to the Saudi Pro League last year, which reportedly strained relations with the club’s hierarchy. Now, with Schick thriving, the Nigerian faces a steep climb back to prominence.
The striker’s struggles are being felt beyond club football, as his omission from Nigeria’s latest squad for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa underlines his fall from favour. Once viewed as a central figure for the Super Eagles’ future attack, Boniface now faces a pivotal period in his career.
At 24, the forward still has time to reassert himself, but the Bundesliga’s unforgiving nature leaves little margin for hesitation. Ten Hag’s comments are a stark reminder that reputation alone will not secure Boniface’s starting berth.
To reclaim his status, he must rediscover both form and focus, proving himself against fierce competition in Leverkusen’s star-studded squad.
