Victor Boniface makes shortlist for Bundesliga team of the season

Victor Boniface, Super Eagles striker, has been nominated for a place in the 2023/24 Bundesliga team of the season. 

The list of nominees was announced in a statement on the league’s website on Wednesday.

Boniface was included in the shortlist alongside five goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 15 midfielders and nine other attackers.

According to the statement, all nominated players were selected based on “their performance on official Bundesliga statistics”.

Boniface made the list despite being out of action for three months after suffering a groin injury while preparing for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) with the Super Eagles in January.

The 23-year-old Nigerian did not return to action for Bayer Leverkusen until April.

He contributed 11 goals and nine assists in 18 league matches as Leverkusen won their first-ever Bundesliga title with five games to spare while remaining unbeaten.

Boniface was also named the Bundesliga Rookie of the Month four consecutive times between September and December 2023.

Seven other Leverkusen players made the nomination list. They are Granit Xhaka, Jeremy Frimpong, Alejandro Grimaldo, Florian Writz, Jonathan Tah, Exequiel Palacios, and Lukas Hradecky.

The public vote for the Bundesliga best XI of the season will close on April 22.

The fans will account for 40 percent of votes for the final results, with those from clubs and experts counting for 30 percent each.