Tella and Boniface help Bayer Leverkusen secure domestic double
Kekọrịta
- Super Eagles stars Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface, on Saturday evening, added the DFB Pokal trophy to the Bundesliga title they won with Bayer Leverkusen.
Tella came on as a late substitute, while Boniface did not play, as Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen beat FC Kaiserslautern 1-0 in the DFB Pokal final to secure the domestic double.
Boniface has struggled to regain a starting spot since recovering from a muscle injury, starting only three of the last fourteen matches in all competitions.
Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka scored the winning goal 17 minutes into the game, striking a powerful shot from over 20 yards into the top corner.
Manager Xabi Alonso brought on Tella to replace Jeremie Frimpong in stoppage time.
In their first season with Bayer Leverkusen, Boniface had 31 goal involvements in 34 appearances and was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season. He also won the Rookie of the Season award and was named Rookie of the Month four times.
Tella, who joined from Southampton, scored six goals and provided five assists in 39 games, starting 17 of them.
Tella and Boniface will soon join the Nigerian national team for World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin.