Osimhen, Boniface Partnership: Sodje Addresses Striker’s National Team Challenges

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Former Nigeria defender, Efe Sodje has expressed that the incoming Super Eagles manager will need to closely study the players and their style of play to ensure they fit seamlessly into the national team.

Nigerian players often shine on the global stage with their respective clubs, but at times, they struggle to replicate that form when playing for the Super Eagles.

Highlighting the case of Bayer Leverkusen striker, Victor Boniface.

Boniface has been in great form for his club but has yet to fully translate that success to the national team, especially after the recent AFCON qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda, where he failed to score in both matches.

Speaking on Brila FM’s, “No Holds Barred with Ifeanyi Udeze”, Sodje —who earned 12 caps with the national team emphasized that while Boniface is a talented player, he must up his performance with the Super Eagles with Sodje also suggesting that the new coach will need to make tactical adjustments.

“Boniface is a good player but he is just inconsistent (with the national team)

“The question is can they play him and Osimhen together? Or will they have to play one and leave the other?”

“That’s where the issue is, and they have to change the system.”

‘So whoever we get as coach needs to observe the players closely, know how he (Boniface) plays and sometimes adapts to his game.”

With Nigeria currently without a permanent coach, it appears that interim manager Augustine Eguavoen will continue to lead the team into the October AFCON qualifiers, following his success in September where the Super Eagles secured a 3-0 win over Benin and a draw against Rwanda in Kigali.

Boniface has already proven himself a dominant force under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, and with proper management, it’s only a matter of time before he finds his stride with the Super Eagles.