Bremen Coach Questions Boniface Fitness Again as Loan Spell Nears End

Werder Bremen head coach Daniel Thioune has publicly questioned Victor Boniface’s fitness and suitability for the club’s current tactical setup, raising fresh doubts about the Super Eagles striker’s chances of featuring again before the Bundesliga season ends.

What Thioune said

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Thioune was candid about where things stand with the Nigerian forward. He confirmed the club had spoken openly with Boniface about his physical condition and found a clear gap between his current fitness levels and what the team requires.

“We talked about it openly from day one and then also realised that a certain fitness deficit is simply present,” Thioune said, according to Kicker.

He was equally direct about the type of striker Bremen needs right now. “Our current preferred profile is a striker that is present, and strong player in the box. Others have to accept that, even if Victor doesn’t necessarily agree with it,” he added.

Thioune stopped short of criticising Boniface’s commitment, but the message was clear: fitness, not attitude, is the problem. “Whether it is conducive to the present, I do not know, but we’re making a decision that will be beneficial for the future. And there is Boniface that is at least committed. Alone: It is also about his own career,” the coach said.

A season to forget

Boniface, 25, joined Bremen on loan from Bayer Leverkusen for the 2025/26 season but has barely featured. A knee injury kept him out for an extended stretch, and though he recently returned to the matchday squad, he remained an unused substitute in Bremen’s 1-1 draw with VfB Stuttgart. He was not included in the squad at all for the 1-3 defeat to Augsburg that followed.

Musah has since stepped up to fill the striker role and has impressed, offering the physical sharpness and pressing intensity Thioune wants. With two Bundesliga games remaining and Bremen still fighting to avoid relegation, Boniface’s window to play is closing fast.

What’s next

Boniface’s loan spell expires at the end of the season, and there is no indication yet whether Leverkusen will keep him or send him elsewhere. His poor form in Bremen makes it unlikely the club will push to make his deal permanent. A return to Leverkusen for pre-season — or a move to a new club — looks the most likely outcome. For now, though, he has to prove himself fit just to get back on the pitch.

Sources: Punch, Score Nigeria, Kicker, OneFootball