The Nigerian duo of Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella played crucial roles in Bayer Leverkusen’s historic end to the 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign.
Die Werkself on 18 May 2024, defeated Augsburg 2-1 at the BayArena to round off a 34-game unbeaten streak in the German top-flight.
Xabi Alonso's men broke every available record set before in the Bundesliga as they finished the entire league season without tasting defeat, the first time a German team did that since the inception of the Bundesliga in 1963.
🚨🔴⚫️ Bayer Leverkusen make history finishing the Bundesliga season unbeaten.
28 wins, 6 draws, 0️⃣ defeats — 89 goals scored, 24 conceded.
51 games unbeaten in all competitions.
Two games away from legendary unbeaten treble.
🏆👀 Europa League and DFB Pokal finals to follow. pic.twitter.com/nONlMSkbqJ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 18, 2024
Previously, Bayern Munich had an all-time record of 32 Bundesliga matches without defeat, a run Leverkusen shattered this season.
Bayer Leverkusen's quest for a historic end to the league season
Already crowned Bundesliga champions for the first time in their history, the match against Augsburg at home set the stage for a history-making encounter in which Alonso's men breezed to a two-goal lead thanks to Victor Boniface and Robert Andrich who scored in the first half.
Even though the visitors pulled one goal back in the second half, Die Werkself finished the game on top to write an unprecedented chapter in the Bundesliga history books.
Alonso's side ended the campaign with 28 wins, six draws and zero losses in 34 matches; accumulated 90 points from the available 102 points, and finished 17 points above Stuttgart who impressively came second on the log.
But just how important have the Super Eagles duo of Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella been for Bayer Leverkusen in their unbeaten end to the Bundesliga season?
How Victor Boniface goals contributed to Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga season
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface was an essential piece in attack for Die Werkself. The 23-year-old Nigerian quickly adapted to life in Germany in his very first season.
Boniface finished the season as the club's top goal scorer in the Bundesliga, registering 14 goals and nine assists in 23 matches. These stats are peculiar to just the league even though he was out of action for three months.
The brilliance of the Ondo-born striker for Leverkusen this campaign earned him the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award, showcasing his dedication and hard work across the matches he featured for his club.
The former Union Saint-Gilloise forward did not only contribute immensely for Leverkusen in the German top-flight, his excellence cuts across the various competitions the club participated this season with his 30 goals involvement in 33 games across all competitions.
⚽ 21 goals
🅰️ 9 assists30 goal involvements for Victor Boniface, on his 33rd appearance of the season. Phenomenal 👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/hT8Hl4vvjW
— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) May 18, 2024
The Nigerian has been one of the key figures in the club's unbeaten end to the league season, and their extended unbeaten run across all competitions which is now at 51 matches.
With the Europa League and DFB Pokal finals now left to play for Leverkusen, Boniface is set to record an unprecedented treble in his growing football career.
How Nathan Tella contributed to Leverkusen's invincible league campaign
Nigerian midfielder Nathan Tella is another player worthy of commendation in the Bayer Leverkusen squad.
The 24-year-old former Southampton player featured 24 times for the team in the league with a seven goal contribution: five goals, and two assists.
In addition to his league involvements, Tella has played 37 matches across all competitions this season for Leverkusen and could feature for some minutes in the two finals left for them to play.
Nathan Tella’s numbers are decent for a player who made only 16 starts out of his 36 appearances this season, a reliable utility figure in Alonso's squad.
The Super Eagles player has featured more from the bench, but his contribution in the team's unbeaten run cannot be overemphasized. The Nigerian played his part well for Die Werkself who have now become the only German side to finish the league unbeaten and just the fourth Nigerian to win the Bundesliga title.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 months ago
