Super Eagles head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has reaffirmed his support for striker Victor Boniface, despite the player’s ongoing difficulties in replicating his impressive club form with the national team. During a media interaction following Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to Rwanda on Monday, Eguavoen acknowledged that Boniface’s underperformance has been a concern but emphasized that the 22-year-old remains a crucial part of the Super Eagles’ future plans.

The loss to Rwanda in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, marked the conclusion of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group D qualifiers, where they had already secured their spot for AFCON 2025 in Morocco, finishing top of the group with 11 points. However, the defeat left a lot to be desired from the Nigerian team, with Boniface’s struggles in the attack standing out.

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Eguavoen spoke candidly about Boniface’s performance, admitting that while the striker has shown significant promise at the club level, his adaptation to the Super Eagles setup has been challenging. “Yes, good question. Boniface is capable of great things, especially in his club. When he comes here, we try to give him a lot of confidence and playing time,” Eguavoen said.

The coach revealed that he has personally communicated with Boniface to boost his confidence, stressing that a player’s mental state is key to their success. “I’m somebody who wants to give players confidence. I’ve done enough, but for whatever reason, he’s still not clicking with the team,” Eguavoen added.

Boniface has yet to score for Nigeria in his 11 appearances since his debut in September 2023, leading to comparisons with Victor Osimhen, who has quickly formed a bond with the fans. Despite this, Eguavoen made it clear that Boniface is not on the verge of being dropped from the squad.

“He’s still part of the squad. He will remain part of the squad,” the coach assured, signaling that Boniface’s potential is still highly valued within the national team’s setup.