A fiery on-field dispute between Nigerian striker Victor Boniface and Argentine midfielder Emi Buendía has sparked mixed reactions from fans after a dramatic moment in Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s match against Frankfurt on Saturday.
The tension unfolded when Buendía, in a promising position inside the box, attempted a shot but narrowly missed. As he moved for a second attempt, the ball rolled into Boniface’s path, prompting both players to instinctively go for the shot. Boniface, however, took the strike, only for it to be blocked by an opposition defender. A second attempt was also blocked, and the ball eventually went out for a corner.
The two teammates quickly became embroiled in a heated argument, with their frustration boiling over on the pitch. Teammates rushed in to separate them, but the incident triggered a flurry of reactions on social media, with fans split on who was at fault.
Some fans sided with Buendía, criticizing Boniface for not prioritizing team play. X user Serah Ibrahim (@TheSerahIbrahim) expressed, “Boniface was at fault here. Never fight with your teammates during the game. Play as a team.” TalkwithNnene (@NoWhere2Hid) added, “Boniface is not being a good team player. Never fight your teammates! Wait till the match is over and have a conversation about it. That display was so unnecessary.”
However, others defended Boniface, believing he had the better chance to score. Ucheyy (@NachouBae) stated, “Boniface was more likely to score the goal,” while PharmHeydayy (@Templegaurd) remarked, “The other teammate completely misfired, and Victor was in a better position to try. I don’t get his teammate’s frustration though.”
There were also neutral voices, with some suggesting both players were to blame for the miscommunication. Paul (@segunizzy) commented, “Both of them are right and both of them are wrong,” while Emeka Chris (@Emmychris290) noted, “They were both hungry for the goal and didn’t communicate well.”
The incident reignited discussions about Nigerian players facing criticism in European football. HORLARB (@horlarbsblog) voiced frustration, stating, “Why are they all against Nigerian players? Same thing happened to Osimhen, same thing happened to Lookman. They hate us so bad.”
However, some fans viewed the clash as a natural part of the game. PELEZ (@PELEZOFFICIAL) said, “Sometimes footballers get too emotional. It’s football for you.” Others, like Collins (@FCBCollins), saw it as a sign of both players’ commitment: “Both Boniface and Buendía displayed a relentless drive to score and a shared commitment to team success.”
Despite the divided opinions, many agreed that better communication could have prevented the altercation. Sundaytruck (@Sundayjctrucks) summed it up, saying, “Poor communication on the pitch leads to moments like this. They need to coordinate better. Individual brilliance is great, but football is a team sport. They need to work together.”
