Nigerian footballer Victor Boniface has shared his pride and joy after making his debut appearance in the prestigious UEFA Champions League. The 23-year-old striker played for Bayer Leverkusen in their impressive 4-0 victory over Dutch club Feyenoord on Thursday night at the Stadion Feyenoord in Rotterdam.
Boniface started the game for Leverkusen and contributed significantly to his team’s dominant performance. The young forward played for 62 minutes before being substituted for Czech international Patrick Schick, as Leverkusen continued their unbeaten run in the competition.
For Boniface, this moment was more than just another match; it was the realization of a childhood dream. In a heartfelt post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Nigerian striker recalled how, as a young boy growing up in Akure, Nigeria, he could only afford to watch Champions League matches by paying a modest fee of 30 Naira at the 323 Army Barracks.
He wrote: “From paying 30 Naira to watch Champions League football for night back then for 323 army barrack Akure to playing my first Champions League game. Proud of this moment.”
Boniface’s journey from watching his football idols on television to playing on one of the biggest stages in world football highlights the power of determination and hard work. Growing up in Nigeria, he developed a love for the game at a young age, despite facing financial challenges that made it difficult to follow his passion for football.
After making a name for himself in European football with clubs like Bodø/Glimt in Norway and Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium, Boniface’s move to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2023 was seen as a major step in his career. Now, with his first Champions League appearance under his belt, the young striker has achieved yet another milestone on his remarkable journey.
Leverkusen’s commanding win against Feyenoord not only secured valuable points in the competition but also set the tone for the team’s aspirations in Europe. For Boniface, however, the night will be remembered as the moment he made his mark on the Champions League stage, fulfilling a dream he had nurtured since his childhood days in Akure.
