In a surprising turn of events, Nigerian striker Victor Boniface has expressed his disappointment after being left off the 10-man shortlist for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award. Despite a stellar season where he clinched both the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal with Bayer Leverkusen, Boniface’s name was notably absent from the Confederation of African Football’s list of nominees.
Boniface, who was also a Europa League silver medalist, scored an impressive 21 goals and provided 10 assists in 34 matches, cementing his place as one of Europe’s top emerging talents. His standout performances earned him the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award and a spot in the Bundesliga Team of the Season, further highlighting his impact on the pitch.
The Nigerian forward, however, took to Twitter to voice his feelings about the snub in a humorous yet poignant manner. “Rookie of the Bundesliga season, Team of the Bundesliga season. No worry I no play AFCON. Na why I dey wait for Memes d’or,” Boniface tweeted, referencing his absence from the last AFCON due to injury as a possible reason for his exclusion.
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Given his individual accolades and the trophies he helped Leverkusen secure, many believed Boniface was a strong contender for Africa’s top football honor.
As debates continue, the exclusion has only added to the conversation surrounding the criteria for CAF’s selection process, especially when a player with Boniface’s resume is left out.
