Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has issued a clear warning to Super Eagles striker, Victor Boniface following the Nigerian striker’s frustrated tunnel walkout during Saturday’s dramatic 4-3 Bundesliga victory over Mainz. Boniface’s frustrations boiled over after he was overlooked for a third time in the match’s final substitutes window, with coach Carles Martínez opting to introduce Equi Fernández and Jonas Hofmann in the 84th minute.
Realizing he would play no part in the fixture, the Super Eagles forward bypassed the bench and headed straight down the tunnel. The incident has spotlighted Boniface’s testing situation at the BayArena this season, where playing time has been heavily restricted. The 25-year-old has made just one league appearance, a five-minute cameo on the opening day against SV Elversberg where he managed an assist, before being repeatedly sidelined or left on the bench.
Speaking after the game, Martínez admitted he missed the incident in the heat of the match but confirmed internal talks would follow. “I didn’t notice it during the game. I don’t know anything about it. If that’s what happened, we’ll speak to him,” Martínez told Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. “I can understand that every player wants to help the team.
At the same time, decisions like that are part of football.” While Rolfes initially offered a lighthearted quip about the striker needing the restroom, he firmly drew a line under the premature exit. “Perhaps he went into the dressing room a little too early today. It won’t happen next time,” Rolfes stated.
Despite the warning, the Leverkusen chief acknowledged Boniface’s improving fitness and professional conduct in training, keeping the door open for the striker to turn his season around as fixtures pile up.