Victor Boniface returned to Bayer Leverkusen with a bang after another quiet international break with Nigeria's Super Eagles in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Victor Boniface made a resounding return to Bayer Leverkusen, scoring in a 3-1 Bundesliga win over Bochum on Friday night, just days after a lacklustre international break with Nigeria’s Super Eagles. The 24-year-old striker, absent from the scoresheet in Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers, reminded fans of his lethal edge at club level. PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Soccer News in Nigeria from Pulse Sports Xabi Alonso stunned observers by pairing Boniface with Patrik Schick up top, ditching the usual 4-2-3-1 for a 3-4-1-2 setup. The gamble paid off. After Alejandro García’s 20th-minute curler put Leverkusen ahead, Bochum’s Felix Passlack responded with a stunning 26th-minute volley to level the score. A tense first half ended 1-1, with Leverkusen dominating possession but failing to convert. The second half belonged to Boniface. On the hour mark, he tapped in from close range after Piero Hincapié’s clever flick from García’s free-kick, a goal upheld by VAR. Though a second strike was ruled offside in the 80th minute, following a sublime Granit Xhaka pass and Jeremie Frimpong’s assist, Boniface’s impact was undeniable. Amine Adli sealed the 3-1 victory in the 87th minute, capitalising on a Bochum error to give the champions that two-goal cushion. Boniface’s club heroics contrast sharply with his quiet outings for Nigeria, where he failed to shine against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Leverkusen fans won’t mind, his goal lifted the reigning champions closer to the Bundesliga summit, denting Bochum’s survival hopes, with a late Xhaka shot that struck both posts capping a dominant display. Boniface celebrates his return to the Leverkusen’s starting eleven for the first time in seven matches with a beautiful goal. For Super Eagles fans, it’s a bittersweet tale: a star reborn in Germany, yet to ignite for the green and white. With Leverkusen purring, Nigeria’s loss is undeniably Bayer’s gain.