Former Nigerian goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph says Kelechi Iheanacho’s impressive hattrick in Leicester City’s 5-0 win over Sheffield United will serve as a big threat to Super Eagles opponents Benin and Lesotho in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Iheanacho who has enjoyed a recent run of game time has now racked up nine goals this season in all competitions. The hat-trick was his first in a Premier League match and becomes only the fifth Nigerian player to manage that feat.
The 24-year-old opened the scoring in the 39th minute and doubled his tally half an hour later. He completed his hat-trick in the 78th minute with a scintillating finish from outside the 18-yard box that left Sheffield’s goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale completely helpless
Speaking with Completesports, the Atlanta Olympic gold medal said that Iheanacho’s performance will be a delight to Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr ahead of the crucial AFCON qualifiers.
He stated that the former Man City star will be hoping to replicate his goals form against the Squirrels of Benin and Crocodile of Lesotho on March 27 and March 30 respectively.
“I am really impressed with the general performance of Kelechi Iheanacho against Sheffield United. His hattrick will definitely vibrate a strong message to Nigeria’s opponents in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Benin and Lesotho.
“As far as I am concern, Iheanachio has set a record for himself as the first Nigerian player to net a hattrick in the colours of Leicester City. Besides, Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr will be delighted with his performance and hoping that he can replicate it against Benin and Lesotho.”
By Augustine Akhilomen
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COMMENTS
Kelechi is giving Rohr problems.A player csnnot score a hat trick in the EPL and be left on the Super Eagles reserve bench.
Rightly said @AKO AMADI.Theres no such thing as a permanent shirt for any player in the national team.If you improve your game to the best levels for your club then you deserve to start that’s standard.So it’s left for Rohr to decide whether to pair Kelechi with Osimhen who has endured all sorts of problems recently.
But on current form Kelechi should start flanked by Moses Simon and Chukwueze.My team against Benin in a 4.3.3.formation
Okoye.Awaziem,Aina,Balogun,Ekong. Ndidi,Shehu,Iwobi. Simon,Chukwueze, Iheanacho.
Should Rohr decides to go for a 4.4.2.formation due to Nacho’s form because I do not see Osimhen starting from the bench then I would start,
Okoye.Awaziem,Aina,Balogun,Ekong. Ndidi,Shehu,Iwobi, Chukwueze. Iheanacho, Osimhen.
I will like to see the combo between Osimhen and Nacho,Osimhen and Sadiq,as well as Nacho and Sadiq(my issue with the last combo is that they are both “slow”).
My selection tip based on current club games: Okoye; Ebuehi, Troost-Ekong, Balogun, Sanusi;Aribo, Ndidi, Iwobi; Simon, Osimhen, Iheanacho
Kelechi plays better when he has a top striker infront of him to relieve some of the pressure. Vardy is Leicester top striker. He was in the game and took pressure off kelechi, he also worked very hard to supply balls for kelechi to score. If kelechi had played as a lone striker, he may not have gotten those goals. So if rohr is to start only kelechi in his team then he MAy not score as many goals as we expect. Osimhen and probably sadiq are the two players in the team that can play as lone strikers and get the goals because they have been doing so in their clubs and are used to it by now. So its up to the coach to decide if he wants a lone striker or two attackers to start the game. But if I may venture a guess, I think rohr may go a bit defensive in benin, like he did in the last qualifiers in south Africa were he played samuel kalu as a wing back because we needed a point to qualify. I think he may repeat the same kind of formation.
Something like this:
OKOYE
Awaziem. Ekong. Leon.
Aina. Ndidi. Aribo. Zaidu.
(Simon)
Iwobi.
Chukwueze. Osimhen.
That will be betterif he can be pair with oshinmen