Nigerian international Victor Boniface has stirred online conversation with his comments on the challenges of combining a professional football career with university education.
In a chat, the Bayer Leverkusen striker argued that the demands of football make it nearly impossible to pursue higher education simultaneously.
He stated that 'football is life' in its own right and that anyone who wants to become a professional footballer should dedicate themselves to it full-time.
thecultureleague shared the clip on Instagram with the caption:
"Is it really possible to juggle football and university? Or do you agree with @boniface_jrn that it’s just too much?
Big shoutout to people like @sheggzolusemo who managed to do both, but the journey wasn’t easy!"
Boniface said on the show:
"Football is a life on its own, and this is what most people don’t get. If you want to play football, just stick to football.
"You can (study), but not like school, say going to the University. That’s exactly what I’m trying to say."
However, his international teammate, Wilfred Ndidi, suggested that it is possible if the learner takes classes online.
He said: "You can still play football. There’s online classes."
How Alozie combines football with education
Meanwhile, fans have taken to the comment section of the footage to mention Super Falcons star Michelle Alozie, who is balancing football with her academics.
The Nigerian women's national team defender earned a degree in Molecular Biology from Yale University while excelling on the pitch.
She is currently involved in cancer research at the Texas Medical Centre, showcasing her ability to combine athletic and intellectual pursuits.
Alozie was part of the Super Falcons squad at the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where she made a name for herself.
She also played a crucial role for the team as they won the 2025 Africa Women's Cup of Nations in Morocco, per Britannica.
Fans have taken to the comment section to react.
segun.adegoke said: "Michelle Alozie is playing football and still working as a Medical lab scientist."
emmanuelwisdom1994 added: "Popsi dey change naira to pounds to send you to school omoo God bless all the parents out there."
assadullah69 posited: "There's a reason most of them only do the degree thing until their careers are stable to a certain degree."
