The real reason behind the decision by head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Finidi George to pick Paul Onuachu ahead of Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface has been made known to OwnGoalNigeria.com.
Onuachu was picked to start in the 1-1 draw against South Africa ahead of Boniface, who was an unused substitute in the game which had now left the Super Eagles in a position where they can’t make errors in the race to be at the 2026 world cup.
Finidi’s decision led to a lot of outcry and questions after the game , but the coach who revealed that the injury to Semi Ajayi forced him into not introducing Boniface as a substitute didn’t reveal the true reason why the 23 year old wasn’t in the starting lineup.
” He (Boniface) came to the camp looking really far and unfit. All the drills he came last and remember we have a new fitness trainer. It was on his advice that Boniface was left out of the starting lineup, although he was fit enough for the final 15 minutes before Ajayi got injured”, a backroom staff told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
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Ahead of today’s game against Benin Republic, he said it is very likely that he will play some part but refused to be drawn on if he will start the game ahead of Onuachu or Terem Moffi who was also introduced in the last game.
” I don’t know and only the coach can decide that. But his fitness is a lot better than it was few days ago. Also it depends on how the technical crew plan to approach today’s game”.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
