Werder Bremen coach Horst Steffen has lauded Victor Boniface’s commitment to the team, describing the Nigerian forward as both personable and dedicated since joining on loan from Bayer Leverkusen.
Speaking after Bremen’s Bundesliga clash with Bayern Munich, Steffen emphasised that Boniface’s character has been just as impressive as his on-field contributions.
“I’ve come to know him as a very likeable person; he’s personable, approachable, and committed to the team. We laugh a lot together, and I think it’s great when a player has such humour and joy. He fits right into our group. I don’t know what others say or how it was elsewhere,” Steffen told Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The 24-year-old striker joined the four-time Bundesliga champions this summer and has already registered an assist in limited appearances. His move to Bremen is widely seen as a chance to revive his career after a difficult, injury-hit season at Leverkusen and to push for a Super Eagles recall ahead of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin.
While expectations are high on the pitch, Boniface has also attracted headlines off it. A controversial Snapchat post drew criticism in Nigeria for being disrespectful towards women. The episode, however, gained global attention when Canadian rapper Drake commented on it and later sent Boniface a branded OVO bag, thrusting the striker further into the spotlight.
On the field, Boniface’s impact has been modest. He has featured in three substitute appearances, creating a goal in Bremen’s 4-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach but struggling in the 3-0 loss to Freiburg. Against Bayern, he came on in the 61st minute, had a goal ruled out, and was unable to influence the result.
Steffen acknowledged that Boniface is still working towards full form:
“You can already see he’s getting better in his stride. He scored a goal against Bayern, but it was unfortunately offside. But he’ll keep on trying,” the coach told Kicker.
“It’s clear we need him and must get him into shape to reach his best. In my opinion, he’s not there yet, but we’re continuing to work on it. We’re very happy with him – and he knows it.”
Before his loan move, Boniface had shown promise at Leverkusen despite recurring injuries, scoring 22 goals in 42 league appearances. Now at Bremen, the expectation is for him to regain consistency and secure his spot in the Super Eagles squad once again.
