Victor Boniface, Bayer Leverkusen’s prolific striker, remains sidelined despite a cryptic social media post that briefly fueled speculation about his return. The 23-year-old has been out of action for two weeks following a muscle injury sustained during Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda.

On Monday evening, Boniface shared an image on Instagram featuring himself with a ball at his feet, sparking excitement among fans. However, German outlet Bild confirmed with Bayer Leverkusen that the photo was not recent, and the player has not resumed ball training.

Currently undergoing individual rehabilitation, Boniface is yet to reintegrate with the squad. Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso expressed cautious optimism about the striker’s recovery, stating:
“We have hope. Boni is on the right track. We have to check every 2 to 3 days to see how he is recovering, but it’s still too early to say whether he will be back before Christmas.”

Boniface’s absence has been keenly felt, with the striker missing key Bundesliga games against Heidenheim and Union Berlin, as well as Champions League and DFB-Pokal clashes. Before his injury, he was enjoying a strong season, scoring eight goals in 15 appearances across all competitions.

Leverkusen faces four more fixtures—against St. Pauli, Inter Milan, Augsburg, and Freiburg—before the winter break. Fans and teammates alike are eager to see if Boniface can make a comeback before the holidays.