Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho is a major doubt for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Iheanacho was included in Nigeria’s 25-man squad for the biennial competition on Friday.
The 27-year-old could now be replaced in the squad with his fitness in doubt.
The versatile forward missed Leicester City’s 2-0 win at Cardiff City on Friday night.
The Foxes manager, Enzo Maresca that Iheanacho is nursing a muscle injury.
Read Also:Enoh States Presidential Backing As Super Eagles Aim For 4th AFCON Title
The former Manchester City star sustained the injury in Leicester City’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town on Boxing Day.
Maresca confirmed that Iheanacho won’t travel to Cote d’Ivoire if the injury is serious.
“Kelechi has a muscle problem two days ago,” Maresca was quoted by Leicester Mercuryà.
“We are still waiting to see if it’s something important or a matter of days. But I don’t think he will be able for the next one (against Huddersfield).
“We don’t know yet (if it will affect his Afcon call-up). It depends on the injury. If it’s an important injury, he has no chance to go. If it’s not important, he can go.”
24 Comments
He is not doubtful for afcon please it’s too early to start these negative conclusion. Let’s hope he’s fit very soon because Iheanacho is one of the few passionate players we have in the SE after Victor Osimhen.
If Iheanacho drops out unfortunately then I will advocate for an alternative who brings the Leicester City man’s versatility.
Moffi or Dele-Bashiru will fit the bill for me. I don’t think Dessers is versatile enough.
This is wishing Iheanacho speedy recovery. I hope he is deemed to be fit enough to make it to the tournament. He worked his socks off in the qualifiers for Nigeria’s ticket. His wealth of experience in international football isn’t available to purchase from Supermarket shelves.
Iheanacho can play centre forward, support striker, left winger and further forward attacking midfielder.
Arguably the most experienced of the forward men. These coaches have started with their negative talks and exaggerating minor injuries.
It would be disaster for Nigeria if iheancho misses his Afcon.. he has been the only player who knows his way to the goal post aside oshimen in recent times.. oshimen cannot do it all alone , he needs someone like iheancho to assist him, and sadly we do not have enough fire power on the bench to replace iheancho if he is not available..
I pray the injury is not too serious,, if he needs to be replaced, a bashiru should come in his place to assist in the attacking midfield position where iheancho loves to play in the super eagles..
I heard okoye was in goal today for his club side benching the first team goalkeeper and he kept a clean sheet.
Injury or no injury, he should be released. Let’s do our own medical check and confirm ourselves.
If injured he should be replaced with Dele Bashiru.
Blessing in disguise
No but Dead leg Musa will add more than Iheanacho abi.
Hahahagaga.. can people be ao clueless Kelechi assist and scores almost every game he plays for SE lately and that is a blessing indisguse okwa ya.
I have come to the realisation that some Nigerians want nothing good for this team a whole relevant Iheanacho is who you sY that about
Left to me I hope Musa have an starin or some minor injury that keeps him out just for Jan so he does not come close to that team then he recovers in MID feb. Something like a sprained ankle or Thigh muscle
Yes it has come to that.
You are not smart. You are wishing someone an injury because you don’t like them. I mean, you surely don’t know what you are bringing upon yourself.
Another tribal dingus spotted.
@Doffi OnyeOsohi Let me remain Tribal by all means if it means me calling out that fraud, meanwhile may Amadioha finish you there. Fool so you people want to keep dancing to Musa tune abi until kingdom come?
Where you not one of the dead brains saying Musa is the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of Nigeria.
Why could Musa only manage 9 goals in 3 years in in Al nasar a club Ronaldo has just Outscored Haaland and Mbappe with 54 goals and 17 assist? At the age of 38yrs??.thats how you fools will be deluding yourself to allow NFF keep tormenting us with that dead leg player that buys his way into the team
Hi Brotherman Ugo,
I think Musa’s inclusion might prove to be helpful for our strikers. The likes of Lookman and Boniface are going to their first major tournament for Nigeria.
Musa’s presence will be a big boost to their confidence.
Musa can still run, he can still pass and he can still track opposition players.
Please let’s overlook his addition.
Cheers
I would have been surprised if the coach didn’t include Musa cos I’ll include Musa too if I were the coach. No matter the energy and vavavoom in a team (sports or corporate), it’s useless without leadership or an identified leader. The project will fail, regardless of the talent.
You never discard experience for 100% youth. Outside of Musa and Ekong, who are the leaders with a good measure of influence on the rest? Simon, Iheanacho, and Ndidi might step up but their influence would be limited – at least for now. My issue with the coach is not utilizing the extra 2 slots allowed. The guy is too stubborn and he’s not a star coach.
I wish Iheanacho a speedy recovery.
However, since our NFF and the gaffer of Super Eagles are not sincere with their Afcon list, I won’t deceive myself.
Injury is part of the game, and if one player gets injured, there should be better replacements for the injured player but because of corruption and tribalism, the coach and the NFF will be under pressure now if Nacho is not available for the tournament in Ivory Coast. I just pray that senior man recover quickly before the Afcon.
I’m less concerned about what NFF and the coaching crew of the Super Eagles are doing at the moment. For sure, they have failed Nigeria before the tournament, and if anyone thinks I’m lying, we should just wait to see why the Super Eagles will struggle to play as a team.
I really pity Osimhen because he can’t do it alone.
That said. Believe it or not, Uzoho will be Nigeria no 1 at the Afcon. Nwabali has not been given a chance to man the post in the Super Eagles.
Adeleye wasn’t excluded while Uzoho made the list. On what basis oje e? A home based goalkeeper to Uzoho in that regard would have been ok.
Iwobi is the only creative midfielder that the gaffer will rely on, but God forbid if Iwobi is sent off or injured in the tournament, who will replace him when we have a natural creative midfielder in Nwakali huh?
I laughed so hard that people were clamoring for the inclusion of Moffi. Did I hear that right?
You people have forgotten that club football can’t be compared to national team football kę.
Moffi has never justified his inclusion in the Super Eagles. I’m I lying ba?
Hmmm. You people want me to talk sha. How can we prefer Moffi to Dessers in the Super Eagles? Kojọran won now.
On what basis kę? After Osimhen, it should be Dessers then Boniface but just because the gaffer and the Nigeria Football Federation are corrupt not transparent to their people, this is why NFF would pay dearly for their deeds in Ivory Coast.
Now, it is not too late to make an adjustment. The gaffer just needs two players to make his team more solid.
No1. Our midfield is not complete, and he needs Nwakali to compliment entire team efforts.
No1. He should replace Sodiq with Dessers if the coach really wants to go far in that tournament.
Additionally, he should start using Nwabali as our first goalie before the Afcon kicks off in Ivory Coast.
If he failed to do the three things, Super Eagles may not make it of the group.
My expectation is very low because of Oga Paseiro and the NFF. They are very confused about what they are doing. They are just there doing business among themselves. It is a pity.
I am not wishing my country and Super Eagles bad luck, but I have to be honest with you, Nigerians.
We have the players, but those in charge of everything concerning Nigeria are letting Nigeria down.
Football is the only thing we love most, and this our oppressors are doing whatever it takes to destroy it. It is left to us to fight back, but if we don’t, our football is gone forever. Hmmm. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
The coach only has one month on the job. He doesn’t know know what he is doing.
Another tribal dingus spotted.
UP SUPER EAGLE
If we have chance for 27 players, why settle for only 25 players?
Is this not pride and arrogance?
Senegal the defending champion is coming with 27 players, why not nigeria?
Why not add Nwakali and Desser? Even if they are not used at the end of the tournament?
Is Nigeria a failed state indeed?
God bless you for asking those questions.
However, Nigeria is a great country, but the people in charge of power and some citizens that benefit from the government are the failure.
If Nigerians can avoid taking money from the government or any benefit from them all and demand for their rights, Nigeria will change but the way it is, no hope accept from God.
We have a chance to take the best of the best 27 man list to Afcon but NFF and the coaching crew have decided to give us 25 man list that can’t stand their toes to toes with any team. This is very bad. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
With or without Iheanacho, I much rather favour 3-5-2 in attack (which becomes 5-3-2 in defence) for the Super Eagles going into this tournament.
Honestly with this formation I can stake my claim of us going all the way to the final.
This formation closely resembles 3-4-3 espoused by Pompei and others on this platform (with 2 of the 4 midfielders functioning as wingbacks).
Imagine a back three of Bassey and Awaziem sandwiching Ajayi. This collectively minimises their individual propensities for errors.
Then wingbacks of Moses Simon on the left and Osayi Samuel on the right. These players are potent both offensive and defensive.
Ndidi and Onyeka will be the defensive midfield pivot sitting behind Iwobi as the centre attacking midfielder. The 3 centre backs and the goalkeeper will benefit immensely from having 2 DMs providing a shield.
In front Iheanacho partners Osimhen in what will be the deadliest strike force in the tournament. Supply will come primarily from Bassey, Moses, Osayi Samuel, Ndidi, Iwobi.
I tell you this formation will be too difficult to breach and the attacking infrastructure of Iwobi, Iheanacho and Osihmen supported by deliveries from Simon, Osayi Samuel and Bassey will be unplayable.
Not Right Up Peseiro’s Street!
But Peseiro is not wired that way, oh no! This sort of arrangement defeats his philosophy of attack attack attack!! Because the triangle of Iwobi-Ndidi-Frank need more time and persistent application to build up the ball to attacking positions.
So, expect Peseiro to go for any of 4-4-2, 4-2-4, 4-3-3 or Eguavoen’s 4-1-4-1. These already station more players in attacking positions and demands urgency to feed them speedily.
Now, Eguavoen’s 4-1-4-1 is also quite intriguing. Imagine a back 4 Osayi Samuel, Ajayi, Onyemaechi and Bassey sitting behind Ndidi who has Aribo and Iwobi in-between Lookman and Chukwueze on the flanks with Osimhen the sole arrow head.
That is another arrangement that whets my appetite because of the presence of 1 DM to shield the back 4, 2 AMs and 2 WFs to provide width, and a solitary centre forward who doesn’t have to worry about feeding a strike partner!
It caused Ghana problems in the second half in Kumasi, leading to the penalty that VAR overruled (after our midfielders Etebo and Iheanacho piled intolerable pressure to Ghanian back line). It also led to the goal in Abuja that was ruled out after Osimhen slightly strayed offside before ploughing the pitch to plant the ball in the net. Against Tunisia, Simon and Sadiq Umar came closest to scoring after Eguavoen switched to his 4-1-4-1.
I hope Peseiro can add 4-1-4-1 to his bag of formations in the tournament. It can be quite potent.
Wishing Iheanacho speedy recovery!
Idealistic Deo. Unfortunately our gaffer is a coaching daft. Even if he wants to tweak his formation with any of the two you espoused, eagles will be highly unrecognizable on the field. Afcon is as competitive as WC qualifiers and if they labored in the past to deliver a semblance of good in very few matches, temper your expectations. Afcon 2025 qualifiers should help reset our buttons because no passionate players except one or two in that squad.
My pain is the mafia like squad list- the same players with no competition in their places will always play without passion.
They will come home. No podium finish. Who’d unlock defense when the going gets tough? The dribbling maestros nephew who likes to play sideways? Less said about the man behind the sticks makes for reduced tension.
Sly,
Peseiro will prove you wrong. He has a method and philosophy that is discernible. It is just too predictable.
If he develops a way of masking his intentions, Nigeria will go far.
I expect this team to reach the quarter finals where they will push really hard to reach the semi final and claim at least Bronze.
I will play 3 wingers behind Osimhen. Lookman (left), Moses Simon (attacking midfield), Chukwueze (right), and I’ll rotate them.
Iwobi would support Simon in midfield, and Ndidi would remain as defensive cover. My back four would be Osayi, Ajayi, Bassey and Bruno
Tristan,
If I get you right, what you say looks like a version of Rohr’s 4-2-3-1.
Osayi-Ajayi-Bassey-Bruno
Ndidi-Iwobi (Iwobi moves up as a CM)
Chukwueze-Simon-Lookman (Simon dovetails as AM/SS)
Osihmen.
Not bad but, based on club football, I will play Lookman as the centre attacking midfielder/support striker.
It’s a solid formation for me. Ndidi has help from Iwobi who combines attacking and defensive responsibilities.
Osihmen is not isolated as Lookman supports and the wingers are close by.
The fullbacks overlap which cam at times give you 5 players in attacking position.
Key to success here is the ability of Lookman and Iwobi to retain and recycle the ball.
Simon and Chukwueze have to be comfortable playing inverted roles and must be ready to chip in defensively.
But Peseiro doesn’t believe in committing too many players in defence. His version could look something like 4-1-2-2-1 with Iwobi joining Lookman in attacking midfield pivot and Ndidi as the sole defensive midfielder. You have your 2 wingers and 1 centre forward. In fact, if you look closely, this is actually 4-1-4-1.
My point is that Peseiro seems unwilling to commit too many players in defensive positions. He wants his Super Eagles to bulldoze opponents with bucket load of goals.