Victor Boniface’s goal drought has stretched to 13 matches after Werder Bremen’s 1-1 draw with Mainz on Saturday, with the Super Eagles striker facing weight and fitness issues at his loan club.

The 24-year-old played 64 minutes before being substituted for Keke Topp, as his barren run extended to eight months.

Silvan Widmer scored for Mainz in the 36th minute, whilst Jens Stage equalised for Bremen in the 86th minute.

BonAiface’s last goal came in March during a defeat to Bochum whilst still at parent club Bayer Leverkusen.

Werder Bremen’s Managing Director of Professional Football, Clemens Fritz, has acknowledged that Boniface is struggling with weight and fitness problems.

“We’ve identified the issues together with Victor and are helping him in every possible way,” Fritz told BILD.

“He is cooperating fully and working hard with extra training, physiotherapy, and a new nutrition plan.”

The 24-year-old reportedly carries excess weight, a factor attributed to genetic predisposition and a high-calorie diet. This has placed additional stress on his knee, which has previously endured two cruciate ligament injuries.

Fritz added that the club is working closely with Boniface to address the problems.

Boniface has featured in seven games for Bremen this season, registering just one assist and no goals. His struggles represent a dramatic fall from grace after an outstanding 2023/24 season at Leverkusen, where he scored 21 goals and provided 10 assists in 34 matches.

His output dropped in the 2024/25 campaign, finishing with 11 goals in 27 games.

Boniface’s move to Bremen came after a failed summer transfer to AC Milan. A planned move to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia also collapsed after he did not pass his medical test.

Because of fitness concerns, Boniface was omitted from the Super Eagles squads for the October 2025 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin, as well as earlier fixtures in September.

The goal drought extends to the international stage, where Boniface is yet to score a competitive goal for the Super Eagles since his debut in 2023.