Efe Ambrose disapproves Osimhen, Boniface attack partnership for Super Eagles

Former Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose has opposed the probable attacking partnership between Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface for Nigeria’s men’s national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Both Osimhen and Boniface were poised to lead Nigeria’s attack at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, but an injury to Boniface thwarted the pairing predicted by many Nigerian football faithful to be deadly.

Jose Peseiro, the Eagles’ former manager was one of many such believers. The Portuguese categorically stated that his two-man attacking setup was flawed by Boniface’s absence, as reported by Football411 in March.

Boniface’s return from injury mirrors Osimhen’s league-winning breakthrough for Napoli last season, as the 23-year-old inspired Bayer Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title on Sunday.

His form ahead of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign in June has sparked anticipation of a formidable partnership with the 2023 CAF Player of the Year Osimhen.

Ambrose, however, believes this will be a tactical drawback since one of the elite strikers will be forced to play out of position.

“Two good players playing in two different teams with different formations is different from playing in the same team with a different formation,” the 2013 AFCON winner told OwnGoalNigeria.

“They are both pointmen at their clubs, so having both play for Nigeria will mean one playing out of position or one dropping to the bench.

“Boniface plays in a formation where he is at the peak of the attack to receive the passes, just like Osimhen at Napoli. Playing both in a 4-4-2 formation looks good on paper, but they could be a problem of players running into each other’s space in the box.”