Sunday, June 7, 2026

The Sun Nigeria

… Boniface for Emerging Player of The Year

Victor-Boniface

Bayer Leverkusen striker, Victor Boniface has been shortlisted for the Power Horse Emerging Player of the Year at the 2023 Globe Soccer Awards.

The Nigeria international is up against twenty six other promising youngsters for the accolade, including Chelsea trio Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Cesare Casadei, and Manchester United striker, Rasmus Højlund,

Approximately 25 percent of the candidates nominated for the Emerging POTY represent Spanish La Liga clubs, with Real Madrid trio Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler and Jude Bellingham, plus Barcelona quartet of Alejandro Balde, Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Gavi all in the running for the prize.

Other eye-catching names shortlisted include Bayern Munich attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala, Brighton & Hove wonderkid Evan Ferguson, Manchester City young stars Joško Gvardiol and Jeremy Doku, and PSG loanee, Xavi Simons.

Since the start of 2023, Boniface has been one of the standout players in the world, registering 21 goals and fourteen assists in 45 matches combined for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and Bayer Leverkusen.

The 22-year-old has won a hat-trick of Bundesliga Rookie of the Month Awards and was voted Bundesliga Player of the Month for August following his blistering start to the season.

Boniface also earned international recognition by making his Super Eagles debut in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against São Tomé and Príncipe in September, and he has gone on to win four more caps.