“It’s a precautionary measure” – Car accident rules Victor Boniface out of Leverkusen’s Champions League trip to Brest

Bayer 04 Leverkusen head coach, Xabi Alonso, has confirmed his side will be without Super Eagles striker, Victor Okoh Boniface, in their UEFA Champions League game against Brest this evening, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 23-year-old striker scored his side’s winner in their Bundesliga clash against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday despite missing a penalty kick earlier.

Hours after the game, the former Union Saint-Gilloise man was involved in a car crash that saw him end up in a hospital, but thankfully, nothing serious occurred.

Speaking ahead of Leverkusen’s trip to Stade Du Roudourou, Alonso confirmed he sidelined Boniface as a precautionary measure.

“He is not in the squad. After what happened, it’s also a precautionary measure. He’s missing for health reasons. He has a small wound on his hand, and a small cut on his right foot, but the shock is bigger. Physically he is better but it is also an emotional issue. He feels good but he is not ready for tomorrow. He’ll be back soon. It’s more a question of days, not weeks,” the Spaniard manager said in quotes revealed by Werkself Xtra.

In Boniface’s absence, Alonso chose to hand 17-year-old German-Nigeria attacking midfielder, Francis Ikechukwu Onyeka a place in Die Werkself’s squad against Brest. The youngster has already taken part in several first-team trainings.

“We want him to feel and experience what it means to play in the Champions League. Boni is not here, so we need someone else,” Alonso concluded.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Brest have won their opening two games in the UEFA Champions League this season, and their match-up this evening will be an interesting one.