Victor Boniface ruled out for rest of season after knee surgery setback

Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface will miss the remainder of the season after Werder Bremen confirmed the Nigerian international is set to undergo knee surgery.

The 25-year-old forward, who joined Bremen on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, has featured 11 times in all competitions this season but failed to find the back of the net. Persistent knee problems sidelined him from training and forced him to miss Bremen’s final two matches of 2025.

The injury also ruled Boniface out of Nigeria’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Following consultations with a specialist in Austria, Werder Bremen announced that surgery is now unavoidable, a development that will keep the striker out for several months.

“We are happy that we now have a solution to let Victor undergo surgery. There is clarity for all parties,” Werder Bremen sporting director Peter Niemeyer said. “Due to the rehabilitation process, we no longer assume that Victor will be available for Werder this season.”

The Bundesliga club added that Boniface’s loan deal, which runs until the end of the 2025/26 season, will not be terminated early. Bayer Leverkusen’s medical team was also involved in the decision-making process.

Boniface previously enjoyed a prolific spell with Leverkusen, scoring 22 goals in 42 Bundesliga appearances, including 14 goals during their title-winning 2023/24 campaign.