The Reason Behind Victor Boniface’s Bench Time: Finidi Explains His Decision to Not Play the Striker

Nigeria’s head coach, Finidi George, has shed light on his choice not to field Victor Boniface in Friday night’s experience against South Africa.
In spite of the promising striker’s potential incorporation from the seat, Finidi clarified that the circumstances on the field of play incited an alter in plans.
“We considered bringing him in, he was assumed to come in, but when we had Ajayi complain that he couldn’t proceed, we had to switch that,” Finidi recognized in a post-match meet on Friday.
The coach famous a strategic move, eventually driving to Boniface’s prohibition from the match.
Be that as it may, Finidi was fast to console fans that the gifted forward’s opportunity may still come. “We have another diversion certainly on the off chance that he’s up and doing he’s progressing to play,” he expressed.
Tending to the feedback and requests from a few quarters with respect to player choices, Finidi accentuated the importance of on-field execution over outside weights.
“For me, it’s what you’ll provide to me on the field of play. Everybody wants this player or that player to play, but at the conclusion of the day, on the off chance that the player isn’t performing, you folks will still be yelling take him off, so let us do our work. We know who is nice to go,” Finidi pronounced.
On Friday, the Super Eagles played a 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana of South Africa within the third circular of the 2026 World Cup qualifier.

Themba Zwane of South Africa opened the scoresheet within the 29th diminutive of the coordinate played at the Godswill Akpabio Universal Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Evening out after an eminent turn, Nigeria’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru opened in a moo shot to the edge of the post within the 46th minute.
The match finished at a stalemate, in any case.
The results are cruel that Nigeria is put fifth in a table of six groups after three matches within the 10-match competition.
Nigeria, in three matches, has drawn all three.
The bunch champs will qualify for the 2026 World Cup in Canada. Meanwhile, the diversion stamped Finidi’s to begin with diversion as Super Eagles coach.
Super Eagles will travel to Abidjan to confront third-placed Benin on June 10, Mexico, and joint states; four best-ranked runners-up go into play-offs, and champs enter an inter-continental competition where six countries will compete for two places.