Nigerian internationals Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella celebrated Bayer Leverkusen’s 1-0 victory over Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on Saturday, marking the club’s first Cup win since 1993.
Both players, key members of the Super Eagles, have been called up for Nigeria’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin.
While Boniface remained on the bench, Tella was introduced in the 90th minute, replacing Jeremie Frimpong to help secure the win.
Granit Xhaka’s 17th-minute goal was enough to seal the victory, despite Leverkusen playing the entire second half with 10 men after Odilon Kossounou’s red card in the 44th minute.
This Cup win adds to Leverkusen’s impressive season, having also secured their first-ever Bundesliga title.
The German Cup victory takes their total number of major trophies to four, which includes one Bundesliga title, two German Cups, and one Europa League.
Leverkusen’s triumph also makes them only the fifth club to win the double since the Bundesliga’s inception, joining the ranks of FC Bayern, 1. FC Köln, Werder Bremen, and Borussia Dortmund.
Boniface and Tella have been pivotal to Leverkusen’s success this season. Their performances have not only contributed to the club’s historic achievements but also earned them call-ups for Nigeria’s crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Both players are expected to bring their winning momentum to the national team as they prepare to face South Africa and Benin.
The German Cup victory highlights the rising influence of Boniface and Tella, both at the club and international levels.
Their contributions to Leverkusen’s double-winning season underscore their potential to shine on the global stage as they continue to develop their careers with both their club and the Nigerian national team.
