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<p>Super Eagles striker and Bayer Leverkusen forward <strong>Victor Boniface</strong> has announced his retirement from international football at just 24 years old, following Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Russia in an international friendly.</p>
<p>Boniface, who started the match in the Super Eagles’ attack, was substituted in the 61st minute for Genk’s Tolu Arokodare, who went on to score the equaliser ten minutes later.</p>
<p>The friendly, played on Friday night, marked Nigeria’s continued unbeaten run under new head coach Eric Chelle, who took over the team in January 2025.</p>
<p>In a post shared on Instagram shortly after the match, Boniface expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent his country, stating that while it was a dream come true, the decision to <strong>retire</strong> was a personal one brought on by difficult experiences on the pitch.</p>
<p><em>“Proud to play for my country and a dream for me also. </em></p>
<p><em>Really enjoyed every moment the good and the bad.</em></p>
<p><em>Thanks a lot. </em><em>Thank you all.</em></p>
<p><em>I don hang boot,”</em> Boniface wrote.</p>
<p>The former Union SG forward made 13 appearances for the Nigerian national team, scoring one goal during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in a match against São Tomé and Príncipe.</p>
<p>Though he enjoyed tremendous success at club level, including winning the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen, Boniface struggled to make a lasting impact for the Super Eagles, a situation that reportedly weighed heavily on his decision to step away from international duties.</p>
<p>His announcement has sparked a wave of reactions across social media, with fans expressing mixed emotions—some offering words of support and others questioning the timing of his departure.</p>
<p>See below;</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1184892" alt="“I don hang boot” – Victor Boniface retires from International football" width="600" height="400" data-lazy- src="https://toptechblitz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_1495.jpeg"/><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1184892" src="https://toptechblitz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_1495.jpeg" alt="“I don hang boot” – Victor Boniface retires from International football" width="600" height="400" /></p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1184894" alt="" width="600" height="858" data-lazy- src="https://toptechblitz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_1496.jpeg"/><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1184894" src="https://toptechblitz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_1496.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="858" /></p>
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