Boniface admits depression after tough year
Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface has opened up on depression after a tough period with injuries, weight criticism and failed moves, Soccernet.ng reports. Boniface’s rise to the top of his
Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface has opened up on depression after a tough period with injuries, weight criticism and failed moves, Soccernet.ng reports.
Boniface's rise to the top of his career once felt unstoppable. The powerful striker had become a key figure for Bayer Leverkusen and looked set for even bigger stages. But over the past year, things have gone wrong for him.
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Now, the Nigeria international has spoken openly about his mental state after a difficult run of injuries, failed transfers and personal setbacks.
“Depression real die,” Boniface wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) page.
It was a short message, but one that captured the weight of a year that has tested him both physically and emotionally.
Boniface’s struggles began with injuries that repeatedly halted his progress. A groin problem in early 2024 required surgery and ruled him out of the Africa Cup of Nations. Later that year, a thigh injury suffered on international duty ended his season early.
Things worsened when knee problems resurfaced, forcing him to undergo surgery again in January 2026. The injury has kept him out for most of the current campaign, limiting his ability to regain rhythm and confidence.
