In a historic moment for German football, Bayer Leverkusen secured the Bundesliga championship title in their 120-year history, marking a significant triumph for the club and its loyal fanbase.
The pivotal role played by Nigeria’s 23-year-old striker Victor Okoh Boniface in this remarkable journey cannot be overemphasized as he got his name on the scoresheet with the opening goal from the spot.
Both Boniface and Tella joined the duo of Pascal Ojigwe and Sunday Oliseh as Nigeria’s ‘formidable’ to have won the Bundesliga.
While Ojigwe earned his stripe with Kaiserslautern in the 1997/1998 season, Oliseh won his with Borussia Dortmund in 2001/2002.
“Congratulations and hats off to the whole Bayer 04 Leverkusen team. The way Xabi Alonso has built up the team this season is admirable. They have dominated the Bundesliga this year and are still on course for success in the Europa League and the DFB Cup final,” Bundesliga Legend & seven-time Bundesliga champion, Lothar Matthaus, told the official Bundesliga website.
While Nigerians took their social media to congratulate the duo of Boniface and Tella
“He’s an exceptional player and we greatly miss him at the AFCON”, Stanley wrote on his X platform
“He’s an asset to Nigeria and a skillful player”, another X wrote
Boniface’s elevation to Bundesliga glory was marked by difficulty and resilience. Devastated by a major injury on the eve of the AFCON, where his talent was eagerly anticipated for the Super Eagles, he sadly faced a four-month layoff.
Yet, this setback was just one chapter in a narrative filled with injury setbacks, including a career-threatening ACL injury soon after signing with Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt.
However, Boniface’s unyielding spirit shone through as he marked his comeback with a crucial stoppage-time goal against West Ham in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal.
His resurgence continued with an outstanding performance against Werder Bremen, where his go-ahead goal sealed Leverkusen’s Bundesliga triumph.
This complete striker’s debut season in Germany saw him notch 11 goals and nine assists in 18 Bundesliga appearances, while also making significant contributions in the UEFA Europa League.
Leverkusen, long haunted by nicknames like ‘Neverkusen’ and ‘Vicekusen’ for their near-misses in German football, finally broke free from Bayern Munich’s 11-year stranglehold and superiority.
Under the leadership of coach Alonso, Leverkusen’s triumph is tempered by the recognition that more challenges lie ahead. With a potential UEFA Europa League victory and a German Cup final against Kaiserslautern looming, the club remains focused on maintaining its unbeaten record and achieving further success.
As Leverkusen basks in the glory of their historic Bundesliga conquest, the spotlight shines brightly on Boniface and his fellow Super Eagles teammate Nathan Tella, who have engraved their names in the records of Nigerian football history as only the third and fourth Nigerians to win the Bundesliga championship.
With an impressive 43-game unbeaten streak this season, Leverkusen’s journey to greatness is far from over. As they continue their quest for European and domestic glory, their coronation as Bundesliga champions is a testament to the power of determination and resilience.
