Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has sparked retirement speculation after posting a cryptic message on Instagram following Nigeria's 1-1 draw with Russia in an international friendly match played in Moscow.

The 24-year-old Bayer Leverkusen forward, who featured for 61 minutes in the match before being substituted, wrote: "Proud to play for my country and a dream for me also. Really enjoyed every moment, the good and the bad. Thanks a lot. Thank you all. I don hang boot."

The phrase "I don hang boot" is Nigerian slang suggesting retirement from football. Interestingly, Boniface deleted the post shortly after publishing it, leaving fans and football analysts puzzled about his intentions.

Boniface's International Career

Boniface made his international debut for Nigeria in September 2023 against São Tomé and Príncipe. Despite his impressive club form with Bayer Leverkusen, the striker is yet to score his first goal for the national team, which has subjected him to criticism from some quarters.

In the friendly against Russia, Boniface was replaced by Tolu Arokodare, who went on to score Nigeria's equalizer, further highlighting the striker's struggles to make an impact at the international level.

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Reactions to the Draw

The friendly match in Moscow ended in a 1-1 draw, with goalkeeper Maduka Okoye receiving praise from Nigerian fans for his performance. Meanwhile, Boniface's struggles on the pitch were noted by supporters, with many expressing disappointment over his inability to convert chances.

Prior to the match, Russia's coach Valeri Karpin had acknowledged that his team would be without two key leaders against Nigeria, though he downplayed the absence of Nigerian stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman from the Super Eagles squad.

The Nigerian Football Federation has yet to release an official statement regarding Boniface's social media post, and it remains unclear whether the striker genuinely intends to step away from international duty or if the post was made in the heat of the moment.

If Boniface does indeed retire from the Super Eagles, it would mark one of the shortest international careers for a Nigerian player of his caliber, especially considering his young age and potential.