- He is a Nigerian professional footballer
- He plays as a forward for Leicester City and the Nigeria national team
- He helped Nigeria qualify in their final match against Sierra Leone at the ongoing 2024 AFCON in Ivory Coast
Kelechi Iheanacho is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Leicester City and the Nigeria national team and is playing at the 2024 AFCON in Ivory Coast after a threatening injury.
The forward is known for his goal-scoring with a good strike rate and his dribbling speed which earned him the nickname “Senior man” by fans and teammates. His career began at Taye Academy in Nigeria before joining Manchester City where he won the League Cup.
He spent two seasons with Manchester and then joined Leicester City where he plays to date and has been a key player for them ever since.
He is a key player for the Nigeria national team and is currently in Ivory Coast where he is representing his country. He started two of Nigeria’s three group-stage matches and featured as a substitute in the third. The forward has yet to score a goal in the tournament but has contributed positively.
Iheanacho has been involved in some promising attacking plays for Nigeria and has shown good potential. Nigeria qualified for the knockout stages as runners-up in their group and he hopes to play a more prominent role in the coming matches and help his team progress further in the tournament.
Kelechi Iheanacho Biography
Kelechi Promise Iheanacho is a Nigerian professional footballer who is best known to his fans and teammates as the “Senior Man” due to his dazzling footwork. He was born in Owerri, Imo State on October 3 1996 to parents of the country’s origin.
Kelechi Iheanacho. Photo/Sky Sports
He began playing on the streets with his friends where he was spotted by local club scouts eventually finding a way into the Nigeria national youth team and he represented them at the 2013 U-17 World Cup which proved to be his turning point. He took the tournament by storm, leading Nigeria to a runner-up finish, and claiming the Golden Ball Award as the tournament’s best player.
The following year, he attracted the attention of European giants Manchester City and signed for the club, where he first featured in their youth team before making his senior debut. He played for the club for two years before leaving for Leicester City.
The forward sought new challenges by signing a contract with Leicester City and immediately made an impact by helping them get to an FA Cup victory. He has been a mainstay for the Nigeria national team, best known as the Super Eagles.
The 27-year-old has represented his country at various tournaments including the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Kelechi Iheanacho’s Threatening Injury
The player suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Leicester City against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, which was a threatening one because the 2024 AFCON in Ivory Coast was around the corner.
The doctor’s initial diagnosis suggested that he would be out for up to two months, which cast doubt if he would make it to the AFCON. The good news is that he underwent intensive rehabilitation and worked hard to regain his fitness. He returned to action for Leicester City a few weeks before the start of the AFCON.
Kelechi Iheanacho. beIN SPORTS
The forward was named in Nigeria’s squad for the tournament and has played a key role in their progress to the knockout stages. While the injury posed a challenge to his participation at the AFCON, he has successfully recovered and is fit to play.
What Should we expect from Iheanacho at the 2024 AFCON?
It is somehow tricky to say what we should expect from the forward’s performance at the 2024 AFCON. However, according to his past performances. It is without doubt that the forward can deliver as he has always done and that is our major expectation.
We hope that he will lead the Nigeria national team to success.
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