Victor Boniface has hinted about a possible early retirement from international duty for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The 24-year-old striker took to his Instagram page to announce that he had hung up his boots on Friday.
The post comes a few hours after Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Russia in an international friendly in Moscow.
Boniface played 61 minutes of the match before he was substituted for Tolu Arokodare, who equalised for the Eagles.
Arokodare scores as Nigeria’s friendly tie with Russia ends in stalemate
Tolu Arokodare opened his goal account for the Super Eagles in the team’s 1-1 draw against Russia in an international friendly.
The striker was a second-half substitute and scorer in the exciting match at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, on Friday.
The Super Eagles were fresh from their Unity Cup triumph, where they defeated Ghana and Jamaica in London.
However, the exodus of key players from camp forced Chelle to shuffle the pack against Russia, which last played competitive football in 2022 before FIFA banned the country over the invasion of Ukraine.
Okoye replaced Stanley Nwabali, who returned to Nigeria for the burial rites of his late parents.
Victor Boniface led an attack that had Moses Simon and Fisayo Dele Basiru. Chrisantus Uche got his first-ever start with the Eagles and paired with Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika in midfield.
The Russians were all over the Eagles throughout the first quarter of the game. The pressure paid off for the home team in the 27th minute after Andrei Mostovoy outpaced Bright Osayi-Samuel down the Nigerian right before fizzing a cross into the box. The ball caught Semi Ajayi unaware and bounced off him into the net.
Nigeria would not get a shot on target until two minutes before half-time. Boniface set Dele-Bashiru on his way with a simple pass, and the Lazio midfielder motored into the Russian goal area, but Matvei Safonov stopped his strike.
In the quest for a solution up front, Chelle brought Arokodare on for Boniface, and before long, there was respite. Safonov made a mess of his clearance from the back, and Arokodare pounced on it. The striker toe-poked the strike into the net with almost nonchalant coolness.
The deleted Instagram post from Victor Boniface
In the social media post, Boniface expressed gratitude for “every moment, the good and the bad” of playing for Nigeria.
“Proud to play for my country and a dream for me also. Really enjoyed every moment, the good and the bad. Thanks a lot. Thank you all. I don hang boot,” the post reads.
The Bayer Leverkusen striker, however, deleted the post a few minutes later. He then uploaded a meme on his Instagram story hinting that his earlier post was a joke.
Boniface is famous for his social media jokes and lighthearted antics.
He made his Super Eagles debut on September 10, 2023, as a 64th-minute substitute for Taiwo Awoniyi against São Tomé and Príncipe.
He is yet to score for the Super Eagles, and his poor form in the team’s jersey continuously attracts criticism on social media.
