Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi sends heartfelt message to devastated Victor Boniface after AFCON miss

The Bayern Leverkusen forward will not make his debut at the continental championships after succumbing to injury in training

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has sent words of encouragement to Victor Boniface after it was confirmed that the Bayer Leverkusen star is ruled out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.

Boniface was expected to be one of the breakout stars at the AFCON following his spectacular start to life in the German Bundesliga.

The former Union Saint-Gilloise forward, however, cupped a groin trouble during the Super Eagles training in their Abu Dhabi camp, which will keep him out of action for club and country for about six weeks.

It is not the first time Boniface would miss a major tournament on the eve of the event. The 23-year-old was forced to withdraw from the 2019 CAF U20 Nations Cup in Niger seven days before the competition kicked off.

Taking to social media on Monday, Boniface lamented his misfortune while confirming he would not be available for the Super Eagles.

Writing on X (formerly Twitter), the striker said: “U20 nations cup got injured 7 days before Nations Cup. Super Eagles got injured 6 days before Nations Cup. Only God knows why.”

However, Taiwo Awoniyi responded to Boniface’s post with a cheerful message urging him to look forward to many more engagements with the Super Eagles in the future.

Awoniyi himself is not in the Nigerian squad for the AFCON due to a groin injury that required surgery.

Still, the Nottingham Forest man was enthusiastic when he wrote to Boniface: “My guy mafo……. We gallant for that green white green. We go again…..no one fit kill light. Imole ma tan last last.”

OGC Nice striker Terem Moffi has been called up as Boniface’s replacement for the Super Eagles.