Nigeria Super Eagles and Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface has been ruled out for three months through injury.
Leverkusen confirmed the period Boniface would be out in a post on their X handle.
Boniface suffered the injury in the Eagles training camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in preparation for the AFCON 2023.
The injury saw him miss the Eagles two friendly games against a local club in Abu Dhabi and Guinea.
“Victor Boniface suffered a muscle-tendon injury in the right adductor area during the Nigerian training camp in Dubai,” the club stated.
“The striker will undergo surgery in the coming days and is expected to be out of action until early April.
Boniface has been replaced by OGC Nice striker Terem Moffi, who was in the initial 40-man provisional squad for the AFCON.
The 23-year-old has been in impressive form for Leverkusen, whom he only joined in the summer.
He has scored 16 goals, made eight assists in 23 appearances in all competitions for the German club.
The AFCON 2023 will kickoff on Saturday 13 January and end Sunday, 11 February 2024.
The Eagles will take on Equatorial Guinea in their first Group A game on Sunday 14 January.
On the 18th and 22nd January, they will face Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau respectively.
