Kelechi Iheanacho will link up with his Super Eagles teammates on Tuesday, January 9 ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, according to president, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Ibrahim Gusau.
Iheanacho is currently recovering from a muscle injury and is yet to link up with his international teammates at their Abu Dhabi training base ahead of the competition.
The forward’s Leicester City teammate Wilfred Ndidi has already been ruled out of the 2023 AFCON finals due to injury.
Gusau revealed that the 27-year-old will be with his colleagues before their departure to Abidjan.
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“I have spoken to Iheanacho, he’s recovering fast and has even started running,” Gusau told Totori News.
“He will most likely join us in Lagos, where the team will be hosted to a dinner on January 9.”
The Super Eagles are expected to depart for the competition on Wednesday, January 10.
Jose Peseiro’s side will begin their campaign against Equatorial Guinea at the Alassanne Quattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan on Sunday, January 14.
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COMMENTS
Best news
Good news with Kelechi anything good is possible because he converts chances when we need goals.
THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. AS HE DIDN’T TRAIN WITH HIS TEAMMATES HE SHOULD BE DROP. BENZEMA HAS A MINOR INJURY BEFORE WORLD CUP AND HE WAS DROPPED.
Well there is no Mbappe, Giroud or Griezman in our national team to take his place. If he’ll be fit to play even 45 minutes of the second game, and then subsequent matches, he should be in the team.
He complements the other forwards in the team, and no one else currently offers the same thing to the side.
Thank you Sammy. If he is not going to be fit they won’t take the risk on him. We need Kels in that squad
Benzema didn’t join because the French players didn’t want him, especially Mbappe and Giroud. Didier Deschamps wanted him to play the tournament that’s why he didn’t leave him out of the World Cup squad. Get your facts right!
IF PASEIRO CARRY ANY INJURED PLAYERS TO AFCON, IT WILL NOT WELL WITH PASEIRO, IT WILL NOT WELL WITH SUPER EAGLE.
ARE WE NOT HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH. NWAKALI, AKPOM, DESSERS, URBANS ARE ALL THERE.
Iheanacho is not in the same class with any of these players you mentioned, moreover he just had a minor knock, Iheanacho has the ability to convert half chances which is needed in any competition especially in the later stages.
Very heart warming news, senior man is needed.I was worried because his replacement is just not good enough.
Nigerias best finisher anywhere in the world. We need him in the team even if he’s only 70% fit. With kelechi we are guaranteed to score goals. Osimhen and Boniface will most likely use this tournament to establish their presence and build more understanding as the tournament progresses. Our best combo in attack is Osimhen Iheanacho and Lookman if all are fit to start.
Boniface will now start ahead of Iheanacho to support Osimhen with Kelechi recuperating on time for the Ivory Coast showdown. Lookman Chukwueze Simon all fit and ready to play anytime. Our attack is definitely going to get their chances, burying them with devastating effects remains the question.
I want Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf to play behind Iwobi. However, I believe Peseiro will go with Onyeka Aribo and Iwobi. Let’s see how they can battle to keep possession in that midfield
Ekong and Omeruo leadership will be vital in that defense though Ajayi and Bassey will be the first choice option. Any of Ekong or Omeruo can still break that partnership. Zaidu’s return is great on the left side if he combines well with Lookman Simon or even Musa down the left side. I will prefer Aina to start on the right, but Osayi is the likely starter.
We will have to Fọlọrun sọle with Uzoho because he’s definitely going to be the first choice. I’m just happy that he was able to play some matches with his club before training camp. I hope he can rise to the occasion. He was a top prospect coming into the SuperEagles and had player at the WorldCup. I will back him to be the rock between the sticks in vital moments for Nigeria as the tournament progresses. I’m just holding my breath on that goalkeeping department.
All the same VAMOS ARRIBBA SUPEREAGLES!!! Fly like an eagle into the future.
Absolutely bro. Sometimes I wonder what he would’ve being like if had a great-first-touch and physicality. But I guess no one has it all. His striking ability is world-class. Most of his goals (from U-17 days) are more of brains than brawns.
Looks like your formation is 4-3-3. That Knucklehead Peseiro uses 4-2-4, so our midfield would likely be Iwobi and one person. Boniface and Osimhen are sure to start, but I think Sadiq would be the standout player in our team. Goodluck to the team!
You’re right Sadiq is also a good option to support Osimhen in attack. I’m not worried about our attacking options. I just hope they will all come to the party when given the opportunity.
which musa are you talking about to start on the left side? That northern slot.
He’s technically the best finisher Super Eagles has (in terms shooting accuracy and conversion). That’s a good news for Nigeria. He can miss the first game but will be very important in big games like CIV and knockout games.
I pity this team. All the noise about us having a strike force, maybe we need to remind us the last 2 world cup qualifiers, our attack was porous, and now people are clamoring for a player that is not fit to start a game. Did i just hear even if he 70% percent fit, are you kidding me. What if the injury re-occurs what will you say then. Please let him make way for other players if he is not 100 percent fit.
Yes even if he’s 70% fit we need him in the team. Many people have short memories. Victor Moses picked up a hamstring injury just before the AFCON in 2013. He ended up being our most important player throughout the tournament. He couldn’t be fit on time for the first match against Burkina Faso.
He was taken off in the second half against Zambia. When we needed to win to qualify for the quarterfinals he peaked and helped us all the way to the final. Kelechi is in that category. Let me even bust your bobbles after Osimhen in terms of goals he’s next. In fact he converts more chances than Osimhen statistically.
Boniface haven’t done anything meaningful yet even though he’s got the potentials. Kelechi is absolutely important to this team and we need him even at 70% which is objective because Leicester will not let him go if it’s a serious injury.
@rocky . Just pity yourself
If Ihenacho can still make that team with the hope that he will recover fully before or after the first match, he should be in that team. No one should the mistake of dropping him because in the knock stage, if we make it, will be quite demanding and we need all our best players, especially those who know the road to goal. He still remains the most composed of all strikers with fine range of passes in the final third.
What brought us to this level. So, Nacho is irreplaceable because he is one of the valuable players in the Super Eagles, right?
This is why coach Paseiro should be replaced after the Afcon in Ivory Coast.
For sure, Nacho is very important to Super Eagles and Nigeria any day any time, but as it stands now, he is not fully fit for Afcon, and he should be replaced shikena.
It is simple. If Nacho risks the injury, it may add to his injury in training or before the tournament or as the tournament progresses. So, what is the point of wasting three spots? CAF allows a 27-man list, but NFF and Oga Paseiro are manipulative for giving us a 25-man list, leaving out Moffi, Dessers, and Nwakali.
NFF and the gaffer can still fit in Dessers, Nwakali, and Moffi by leaving Nacho out of the squad, which the list of the players would be 27.
I wish the senior man a quick recovery, but he has to do the needful. We have so many good players that can replace Nacho.
This is Afcon, for God sake. Very physical, and what can a 70% unfit player do? NFF and the coach still have three spots empty if Nacho insists he has to go.
Nacho should seek advice from Ndidi because Afcon is not a child play.
I will advise the coach to call on Dessers, although people are clamoring for Moffi, but between both who is better, multi task, more clinical in front of goal and utility player? You know the answer now. Dessers, of course.
For the benefit of our darling team Super Eagles, the three of them should be included, but if it is not possible to have a 27-man list, then Nacho should be out while Dessers should be in period. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Yes Nacho is irreplaceable because the deadline has passed. Nwakali Dessers? Lmao! Don’t forget that Moffi too just came back from injury. If we had 27 players I will only add Dele Bashiru and Tella. To provide more options in midfield and on the wings.
Yes I’m sure you don’t expect anything from the team but I’m also absolutely certain that once smiles on us you will be Peseiro’s cheerleader. Lmao!! At least you know that Nacho is very important to the SuperEagles Lmao!! No he’s not na Fernando Adi suppose Dey important na. Lmao!! Hypocrites!!!
**Once fortune smiles on us you will definitely change your tune** Hypocrite!!!
There’s no team at AFCON that hasn’t lost a high profile player due to injury. Let Nigeria not use it as an excuse. If Kele is OK later, fine. Stephen Keshi, our greatest player at the time, was absent injured in Tunisia and Nigeria still won AFCON
Kelechi Iheanacho’s fitness will be a great boost to Super Eagles chances in Cote d’Ivoire.
His versatility offers a lot of far reaching implications for the team, aside his vast experience. His technical astuteness has gone a notch higher from his youth days in under 17. He’s got an incredible link up play from the midfield to the attack. Often times, his ingenuity has seen him flourish in the attacking midfield role (no. 10) or as a typical no.8 behind the top striker. He’s just unplayable when he’s fit and top form. He’ll be a massive support base for Osimhen like he did with Leicester strike partner, Jamie Vardy. His ability to whip and pull the trigger from a range is sunreal. Needless to say, he possesses decent passing range to pick his man in vital areas as well as set pieces skills.
in a tournament you stick with the players you already know what they will offer rather than new comers .may be moffi should have been in the team but not in the place of nacho.dont foget we already have 4striker,so what will moffi offer different
Let’s look at Iheanacho’s notable goalscoring resume:
1. Mali
2. Senegal
3. Egypt
4. Tunisia
5. Argentina
6. Cameroon
Na this kind pesin una dey carry play? Oya show me other striker’s resume if not Sao Tome, Lesotho and Central African Republic. Mek una dey show respect sometimes lol.
hmmm
Would like to see the Eagles play with this formation and lineup:
UZOHO
(aina)OSAYI AJAYI BASSEY ZAIDU
ALHASSAN RAPHAEL(onyeka)
(chukwueze)LOOKMAN IWOBI BONIFACE
OSIMHEN(sadiq)
Information from camp training says the coach is now experimenting with 433 formation. This might be a signal of good things to come also that Yusuf and Boniface are hitting top form .The good news however to me is that Tinubu has released 1.3 million dollars to FA to settle both coach and players 26 month unpaid allowances. Now we are talking of serious preparation. The FA knows the players are not putting their body on line to play for the country and they have accused the players of non commitment. If Eagles put their body and life to this Nations cup ,it will be difficult to play against them.
Nacho’s injury is minor, that’s why he still the team, If he was dropped and he recovers in few days time and plays and probably scores for Leceister while the Afcon Tournament is still on. Fans would still be complaining that he feigned injury just to miss Afcon. Nigerian fans are so insatiable, If the injury was more serious like that of Ndidi, his club’s medics won’t even try to let him go.
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE TEAM PLAY WITH THIS FORMATION NOW THAT NDIDI IS OUT:
UZOHO
OSAYI AJAYI BASSEY ZAIDU
ONYEKA RAPHAEL(aribo)
LOOKMAN IWOBI BONIFACE
OSIMHEN
Why acting like unstable ashewo? Posting/requesting a diff. Lineup in space of 1hr, thank God you not the coach, for me I will prefer omeruo and bassey combo.
I’m disappointed with the decision to hold back a fit player for a player who is not fit. If Iheanacho is not deemed fit to train with others, I can not see the justification to take him to the competition. Sentiment aside, I think Iheanacho should be dropped for a player who is fit, prepared, and ready for the competition.
A lot of you don’t understand football that is why you don’t use logic. Drop him and all eyes will be fixed on Osimhen for goals and by the time other teams figure this we are done. You can read that they said he has made massive recovery yet you talk like this.
@sean it’s people who don’t have business with football that calls these eagles chicken . Have been following Nigeria team since 90s so i can confidently say that this set of players are the best in term of individual club performance . When Nigeria lose matches besides friendly matches it’s because of error or lack of commitment from players not because the team is not good, another problem we have is over confidence like our game against Tunisia.
Respect bro, u sabi.