'It's not just me' - Boniface insists he feels no added pressure stepping into the shoes of Osimhen

Victor Boniface has insisted that he does not feel additional pressure stepping into the shoes of Victor Osimhen ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Libya.

The reigning African Footballer of the Year has lost his fitness battle to lead the Super Eagles attack and was not summoned for the internationals in October.

Nigeria's interim boss Augustine Eguavoen has selected three center forwards in his squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, including Boniface, Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi.

Logically speaking, it is believed that Boniface would get the nod to lead the attack against the Mediterranean Knights, considering the fact that he filled in for Osimhen due to the Napoli-owned player lacking match fitness in the matches last month. 

Boniface is the most in-form Nigeria striker at the moment with six goals in nine outings for Bayer Leverkusen, while Iheanacho and Awoniyi are struggling for game time and have not opened their goalscoring account for the season. 

When asked by Football Fans Tribe about starting in place of Victor Osimhen and if it brings extra pressure, Boniface replied: "I don't feel any pressure. It's not just me, we have other strikers Kelechi, Awoniyi and myself. If I play, if anyone of us play, we will try to get the win.

"For me the most important thing is the team's performance. If we are winning and I'm not scoring then I don't have any problem. Whatever people want to say they should say but as long as we are getting the win then it's fine by me."

Boniface has made it clear that Super Eagles are focused to get the job done despite the Libyans being regarded as underdogs following their poor start to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

"First of all there is no low team because the opponent also, they are here to represent their family and country. 

"We are doing the same so will try our possible best to make a country like Nigeria really proud, to get three points and try to qualify for the next Africa Cup of Nations.

"We know how important the last one was for Nigeria in general, the support and everything, so we will try our possible best to get the win."

Boniface has earned eight international caps since making his Super Eagles debut in a 6-0 win versus São Tomé and Príncipe in September 2023.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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