Boniface flaunts resumé after surprise omission from CAF Awards shortlist

Super Eagles forward, Victor Boniface has expressed surprise like many other football lover following his omission from the CAF Men’s Player of the Year shortlist.

Only two Nigerian players were included in the men’s player shortlist – Ademola Lookman and captain William Troost-Ekong – who both did well at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast in February.

Boniface helped Bayer Leverkusen to win the German Bundesliga as well as the German Cup, and bagged some personal gongs while scoring goals and providing assists in major part of the season.

But it appears that the continental football body had shortlisted mainly players who performed greatly at the AFCON, with Boniface absent from the games due to injury.

A post on X by @LeaguesReporter read:

“• Won the Bundesliga
• Won DFB-Pokal
• Europa silver medalist
• Scored 21 goals
• Assisted 10 goals
• Played 34 matches

“Boniface Victor didn’t make it to the list of nominated players for CAF Player of The Year. This is a big surprise.”

Read Also: CAF Awards: Nwabali nominated for goalkeeper title; Lookman, Ekong for POTY

Under the post, Boniface responded by adding two more achievements of his’ from last season and made a humour out of the post.

He replied: “Rookie of the season, Team of the season. But no worry I no play AFCON. Na why I dey wait for memes d’or.”

Reactions have trailed the 10-man shortlist by CAF.

But asides Boniface, other top African players like Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Egypt, Mohammed Kudus, Brahim Díaz, holder Victor Osimhen and Nico Jackson, were also left out in the 10-man shortlist.

The 2024 CAF Awards has been scheduled to hold on 16 December, 2024 in Morocco.

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