Nigerian striker Victor Boniface went under the knife Saturday for a nagging knee cartilage tear, with Werder Bremen confirming the 25-year-old sits out the rest of the 2025/26 season and heads back to parent club Bayer Leverkusen early.
The procedure in Austria caps a nightmare loan spell where the Super Eagles hitman blanked in 11 outings, sidelined since December after ignoring the issue last summer.sports.
Boniface, fresh off Leverkusen's 2023/24 title romp with 14 goals, chased Bremen goals but crumbled to the knee gremlin that haunted prior Bodø/Glimt days. Clubs synced post-specialist nod in Innsbruck, greenlighting surgery over risky play that could've tanked his career. Bremen boss Peter Niemeyer sighed relief at the fix, but rued no more Vic magic this term despite loan papers holding till summer.
Fans gutted as Boniface misses AFCON 2025 glory and Nigeria's Nations Cup push, with Osimhen and Lookman shouldering Eagles attack sans the big frame. Leverkusen eyes rehab return for next season's title defense, where his 22 Bundesliga strikes proved Xabi Alonso gold. Teammate Senne Lynen sent prayers, hailing the long-term save amid Bremen's snow-delayed Hoffenheim restart.
Socials flooded with #GetWellVic prayers from Obidients to global punters, pondering if this hiccup fuels a monster 2026/27 comeback. No timeline yet beyond "several months," but experts peg full throttle post-preseason if rehab clicks. Boniface's silence leaves focus on knife work and Naija's tournament trek without their loan lion.