Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface was on target as Bayer Leverkusen earned a 2-0 first-leg win over English side West Ham United in the Europa League on Thursday night.
It was his first goal since returning from injury and his fifth in the competition to help his team get one leg into the semi-finals.
Xabi Alonso started the Nigerian from the bench as he said the 23-year-old wasn’t ready to start a game yet, and it paid dividends.
After a goalless first half, Leverkusen, who have not lost a game all season, took the lead through Jonas Hoffman in the 83rd minute of the game.
Back in the goals Boniface!
Boniface, who replaced Patrik Schick in the 76th minute, then scored for Leverkusen in added time to put more gloss on the win and extend his side’s brilliant run this season.
Leverkusen worked a quick corner kick down the left which Hoffman whipped into the box, and Boniface rose highest to head past Lukasz Fabianski in goal for West Ham.
The goal against the Hammers was his fifth in the competition while he had also scored 10 goals this season in the Bundesliga before an abductor issue made him miss ten Bundesliga games.
Boniface also missed Nigeria’s campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations where the Eagles got to the final but lost to eventual winners Ivory Coast.
Another Nigerian, Nathan Tella, also played a part in the game, coming on for Jeremie Frimpong in the 67th minute to add more Nigerian flavor to the game.
The 23-year-old has been a revelation in his rookie season at Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. He has scooped several Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month awards in the Bundesliga.
Leverkusen on the cusp of the Bundesliga title
Boasting a commanding 16-point lead with just six matches remaining, Leverkusen are a single victory away from claiming their first-ever Bundesliga title.
This Sunday's clash against Werder Bremen holds immense weight, with a win securing Leverkusen's place in German football history.
The team's resilience has been phenomenal. They've dropped points only four times throughout the season and remain undefeated across all competitions.
This unbeaten run at Matchday 29 is not only a first for Leverkusen but only the second time ever achieved in the Bundesliga.
For the Nigerian players within the Leverkusen squad, this potential triumph would be a particularly emotional one.
A hard-fought victory on Sunday against Werder Bremen would undoubtedly ignite jubilant celebrations, etching their names into club folklore.
Boniface and Tella will cherish the memories, with the former capping a brilliant debut season with a Bundesliga title.
