Like Kanu, Oliseh, Bassey, Ojigwe: Tella and Boniface make history with Leverkusen

Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface have recently added their names to the prestigious list of Nigerian players who have achieved major European league titles, Soccernet.ng reports.

Leverkusen made history in the Bundesliga by completing their first-ever unbeaten season, securing a 2-1 victory over Augsburg on the final day. This feat marks them as the first team in Europe’s top five leagues to remain unbeaten since Juventus in the 2011-12 season.

In the match against Augsburg, Leverkusen took an early lead with goals from Nigerian forward Boniface and Robert Andrich, leading 2-0 at halftime. Despite Augsburg’s efforts, including a goal from Mert Komur, Leverkusen held firm to close their historic campaign with a win.

Boniface and Tella Join the Ranks of Oliseh and Ojigwe

By winning the Bundesliga, Boniface and Tella join a distinguished group of Nigerian footballers who have claimed the German top-flight title. They follow in the footsteps of retired legends Sunday Oliseh and Pascal Ojigwe.

Oliseh won the Bundesliga title with Borussia Dortmund in the 2001-02 season, demonstrating his strength and composure in midfield as Dortmund clinched both the Bundesliga and UEFA Cup trophies in 2002.

Similarly, Ojigwe was a key player for Kaiserslautern during their 1997-98 championship season, contributing significantly to the team’s success.

Tella and Boniface Achieve Unbeaten Season Honours

Boniface and Tella’s accomplishment extends beyond the Bundesliga title. They have also joined an exclusive group of Nigerian players who have won a European league title with an unbeaten record.

This rare achievement places them alongside football icons like Nwankwo Kanu, who achieved the feat with Arsenal in the 2003-04 season.

Additionally, Calvin Bassey, Joe Aribo, and Leon Balogun replicated this success with Rangers in the 2020-21 season.