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Tag: Iheanacho

  • Dad reveals: Iheanacho will make U-20 World Cup

    Dad reveals: Iheanacho will make U-20 World Cup

    Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho will make the Nigerian team to this summer’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, his father, James, has told sl10.ng.

    There have been conflicting reports as to the availability of the 18-year old for the U-20 World Cup, as he has suffered a recurring ankle injury – even though he returned to score in City’s FA Youth Cup final loss to Chelsea last weekend. He is in Nigeria’s provisional list for the tournament, but has been serious doubt giving his injuries.

    But in an interview with sl10.ng, the player’s father, James Iheanacho snr. has said his son has fully recovered from his injury and will be ready for the U-20 World Cup.

    “I spoke to him and he tells me he is fit now. He has been suffering from that injury (ankle) and it comes and goes,” he told sl10.ng.

    “But I know he will be fit enough to go to the World Cup and he has told me so. The World Cup is a big tournament that my son will like to play in, so he’ll be there,” he added.

    Kelechi Iheanacho has recently suffered injury nightmares, but starred and scored for City’s U-18’s in their FA Youth Cup final loss to Chelsea.

    If fully fit, he is expected to make Nigeria’s final 21-man squad, despite having been a peripheral figure since the team was formed.

  • Iheanacho showed us hell

    Iheanacho showed us hell

    Iheanacho was named in the starting XI by Manchester City when both teams clashed in the FA Youth Cup final on Monday.

    The Nigeria youth international was not risked for the first leg as he was just recovering from an ankle injury.

    “City were able to bring in their centre-forward Kelechi Iheanacho, who was unavailable for the first leg, but we knew the threat he was able to bring and he showed that with the early goal,”Joe Edwards told the official website of Chelsea, chelseafc.com.

    Iheanacho opened scoring in the 5th minute but Chelsea would go on to score two goals to win the final 5 – 2 on aggregate.

    The ex Golden Eaglets star is expected to be named in the Flying Eagles roster for the Fifa Under 20s which begins next month.

  • AYC: Manu Garba rejects Iheanacho’s plea

    AYC: Manu Garba rejects Iheanacho’s plea

    Assistant coach of the Flying Eagles, Nduka Ugbade, has sensationally revealed that Manchester City starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho, pleaded with head coach, Manu Garba, to be included in Nigeria’s final squad for the 2015 African Youth championship in Senegal.

    Iheanacho was initially ruled out of the competition after picking up an injury which was ratified by his English Premier League club.

    The former Golden Eaglets star recovered from the injury before suffering yet another setback but not before asking the coaching staff of the Flying Eagles if he could be drafted into the squad as a late inclusion.

    “Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi and some of the other players who are not here (in Senegal) actually pleaded with coach Manu if they could be included but he said no because they did not work with us in the final phase of our preparations.

    “That is the hunger and desire they all displayed but the coach (Manu) has told them that if we qualify for the U-20 World Cup, they will all be invited to fight for shirts,” Ugbade told supersport.com.

    Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles held its first training session in Senegal ahead of the competition’s opening game against the hosts, Senegal.

    The team trained on Thursday evening at the Stade Iba Mar Diop, Dakar.

    The training session lasted 90 minutes and all the 21 players trained fully.

     

  • Iheanacho injured again

    Iheanacho injured again

    Any hope of Flying Eagles star midfielder Kelechi Iheanacho featuring for Nigeria at next month’s Africa Youth Championship(AYC) is now almost gone, after he got another injury, playing for Manchester City Under-19 in the UEFA youth league.

    Although yet to be granted a work permit, that will enable him play for the club main team, the Taiye Academy product is allowed to play for the Under-18 in the UEFA youth league as a player on trial.

    The competition is opened to European youth clubs and UEFA, for the use of players who are not contractually binded to their clubs.

    In his first game for the team since starring in preseason with the first team, the Nigerian was named on the substitute bench for the City side, against Germany Schalke 04.

    Iheanacho, who only recently returned from an injury lay off was introduced as a second half substitute, but had to be substituted with 10 minutes left to play after picking up an injury that ended his participation in the game.

    Nacho, as he is fondly called, has been tipped to gate crash into the Nigeria team, preparing for next month’s AYC, after making a remarkable recovery from an injury that was expected to keep him out of the tournament.

    His participation at the tournament is looking a little doubtful, even though there is no report of how long he is expected to be out of action, but it appears to be a re occurrence of the same injury he has just recovered from.

    If ruled out of the tournament, his absence will come as a setback to coach Manu Garba of the Nigeria Under-20, who was hoping he will make up for the injury enforced absence of Tottenham Hotspurs, Musa Yahaya.

    It will also be a blow to Manchester City’s aspiration of landing him a work permit as they were hoping a strong showing at the youth championship, will solidify their claims to the home office to grant him a permit using the special talent rule.

    Manchester City who were 1-0 up conceded a late goal after Iheanacho’s departure, but still hung on to win the last 16 tie on penalties winning 3-1.

  • Doctors remove Iheanacho’s leg PoP

    Doctors remove Iheanacho’s leg PoP

    Flying Eagles Chief coach Manu Garba has revealed that Manchester City FC of England’s doctors removed the Plaster of Paris (POP) in one of Kelechi’s leg last week Thursday.

    According to coach Manu Garba, Manchester City’s management called to also express their reservations over the various media reports in Nigeria that they have refused to release the creative midfielder, who won the best player in the last U-17 Championship in United Arab Emirates to join the U-20 team for the 2015 AYC in Senegal.

    “Kelechi Iheanacho is a player that can add value to any team. But at present, he has an ankle injury. They had just removed the PoP on Thursday. I spoke with the Man City official who called me that they are receiving negative media reports from here in Nigeria that they are not willing to release the player. He said Kelechi is down with injury, that when he is fit, and there is time, he would join the team”.

    Manu Garba further confirmed that the player would surely add value to his team , and that he would not hesitate to invite him as soon as he is fit: ” If Kelechi were to be around in the match we played against Enyimba, he would have added value to the team, because, he is a player who would have converted some of those chances that were thrown away. He would have buried some of them”.

    The former junior international boasted that though the Man City player would be valuable in team, but that does not imply that he would have automatic jersey in the team.

    “In my team, there is no automatic shirt for anybody or any player. This was obvious when Iheanacho came for the qualifiers against  Tanzania, he could not displace those in the team and he started on the bench. When he comes back, he has to show us what he is capable of doing before he would pick a starting shirt or making the 21-man list”.

    The former Gombe United player said: ” We do not rely on individual player. If you recall, during the World Cup when Isaac Success got injured, a lot of Nigerians were worried. They did not know that Taiwo Awoniyi was sitting and waiting for an opportunity and he proved everyone wrong by scoring four goals and a lot of assists. There are a lot of players that did not partake in this team, still waiting for chances and they are as good as any other player,” he said.

  • Flying Eagles not distracted by Iheanacho’s absence

    Flying Eagles not distracted by Iheanacho’s absence

    Flying Eagles’ assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade, says they are not distracted by the imminent absence of midfielders, Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali from the team to the Africa Youth Championship (AYC) in Senegal.

    The U-20’s are presently fine-tuning preparations for the tournament in Kaduna, but were dealt a huge blow when it was confirmed by English champions, Manchester City that they would not be releasing the duo of Iheanacho and Nwakali for the Africa Youth Championship.

    But despite the seeming setback, Ugbade says he and the other coaches of the team are focused on the task at hand, which is to win the championship, and are not distracted by the impending absence of Nwakali and Iheanacho.

    “We are not distracted by anything; we are focused on the challenge at hand. The target is to win the Africa Youth Championship and that is what we are working on at the moment. Iheanacho and Nwakali are good players but we have enough cover here and I don’t think their absence should be any problem,” Ugbade said.

    However, despite the setback, the team is about to get a boost, with the imminent arrivals of Chidera Ezeh and Musa Yahaya from FC Porto and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.

  • Pellegrini rates Iheanacho high

    Pellegrini rates Iheanacho high

    Manchester City are confident Nigeria youth international Kelechi Iheanacho will be issued a work permit.

    And the English Premier League moneybags have stressed that the highly rated starlet is part of coach Manuel Pellegrini’s plans.

    Kelechi Iheanacho is highly regarded by Pellegrini, so much so that he was allowed to train with the Argentina National Team before the friendly with Portugal last month.

    “Kelechi has been in England training with the first team of Manchester City,” a source told SL10.ng.

    “When Argentina met Portugal in November, the Argentina national team trained with a shadow 11, not the regulars you see on television, and Iheanacho was among those selected.”

    With no caps for the Super Eagles, the 18-year-old’s future at the Etihad Stadium is hanging in the balance due to red tape, but the Citizens are hoping to invoke the Premier League special talent clause to complete the transfer.

    “We are optimistic that Iheanacho will get a work permit, that is what everyone is looking forward to. He should be able to prove his mettle and break into the first team,” added the source.

    “Manuel Pellegrini wants him which is important. He has to be considered as a special talent to get a work permit. Man City are not prepared to loan him to another team.

    “They don’t have a Plan A, B or C for Iheanacho.  The club want him.”

    Iheanacho, who has been called up to the Nigeria Under 23s, has been linked with New York City and KV Mechelen in the last few months.

  • …Invites Iheanacho, 46 others for Dream Team VI trials

    …Invites Iheanacho, 46 others for Dream Team VI trials

    Coach Samson Siasia has invited 47 foreign-based players to the camp of the national U-23 men’s football team, Dream Team VI for screening.

    Much talked about Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho leads the pack of former members of the victorious Golden Eaglets team, that also includes Isaac Success, Taiwo Awoniyi, Musa Yahaya, amongst others.

    All the players are expected to arrive the FIFA Goal Project camp of the team from Saturday the 6th of December.

    The NFF will not be responsible for the flight tickets of those invited for the screening exercise, but will refund those selected after the exercise.

    Goalkeepers: John Felagha (Eupen FC, Belgium, Sebastian Osigwe (SC Kriens)

    Central Defenders: Noah Olawale Ojuola (St George FC) Godswill Elohor Ekpolo (FC Barcelona Spain), Semi Ajayi (Arsenal FC England), Nosa Egharevba (New York FC USA), William Troost Ekong (DFC Dordrecht Holland), Kelvin Akpoguma( TSG Hoffenheim Germany), Amstrong Chidi (lefke Turk kulub Cyprus)

    Right & Left Back: Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin), Dominic Iorfa(Wolves FC, England), Chima Okoroji( Bayern Munich Germany), Musa Muhammed( Beksiktas FC, Turkey),

    Midfielders: Moses Simon Ajala (AS Trencin), Moses Odubajo (Brentford FC), Musefiu Ashiru(FC Midt Jylland), Kehinde Amoo Owoeye (KS Kastrioti Kruje), Gerald Chibueze Diyoke(HNK Rijeka FC, Croatia), Fred Onyedinma( Millwall FC), Chidi Osuchukwu(FC Braga), Lawal Abdulazeez Abidemi(Naftan Novopolofsk, Belarus), Anthony Bassey(Kas Eupen), Shehu Abdullahi(A Qadsia Kuwait), Samuuel Owolabi Olajide(HB Koge, Denmark), Kevin Effiong Bassey(SBV Wehen, Germany), Oladele Oshobe(Plovdiv Lokomotiv, Bulgaria), Anderson Esiti(Estoril Praia,Portugal), Samuel. M. Ayinoko(Angelholms FC,Sweden), Sunday D. Abalo(Rio Ave, Portugal)

    Forwards & Strikers: Michael Olaitan(Olympiakos, Greece), Paul Ebere Onuachu(FC Midt Jyliand), Imoh Fred ?Friday(Lillestrom), Lucky Omeruo(Birkirkara FC Malta), Aminu Umar(Samsunspor FC, Turkey) Imoh Ezekiel (Alarabi SC, Qatar), Cedric Omoigui (Real Mallorca, Spain), Odion Goodness Ajayi(HNK Rijeka, Croatia), Isaac Success(Granada,Spain), Atanda Sodiq Ololade(FK Apolonia FC), Kelechi Iheanacho(Manchester City,England),Fosayo Adarabioyo(Crystal Palace,England),Uche Ikpeazu(Watford FC, England), Alex Iwobi( Arsenal FC, England) Taiwo Awoniyi( Kalmar FF, Sweden), Musa Yahaya(Tottenham FC, England), Maxwell Onyewuchi Alozie( Beni Sakhnin FC, Israel).

  • Siasia eyes Iheanacho

    Siasia eyes Iheanacho

    The new Under-23 Coach, Samson Siasia has insisted that he is not under any pressure at the moment to perform as he is more concerned with recruiting raw talents into the team. The silver winning coach at the Beijing Olympics Games is, however, not ruling out Man City’s rave of the moment, Kelechi Iheanacho from  his line up afterwards as he said: ” Let me do my screening first, Iheanacho is a very good player, if that time comes for us to  include comes up then we will do that. Right now we are looking for raw talents let’s go down and dig deep and look for those players that have not been found  yet. We want to bring them out so that they can be the likes  of Iheanacho and other big players, let’s go out and look for them.”

    Siasia, however, persists that he is in the building process: “For now I don’t have any players, we don’t have any team we are starting all afresh.

    I am not  under any pressure right now, all I want to do is make sure I get  a team to start with.  If we get to the Olympics we will worry about winning or not but for now let’s see how we will come on with a very good team  that Nigerians will be proud of.

    It’s a long way from the Olympics, almost two years so we have to take it one step at a time let’s start with the all Africa  games and see where we are.

    The former Super Eagles player, however, admonished football stakeholders in the country to call a truce as he foresees the crisis affecting the round leather game in the country.

    “Let’ them sit down  I think everybody means well for this country, both parties should see how they can iron out these problems.  Going to the court  every month or two months will drive us down, it won’t encourage us to do actually what we are planning to do,” he noted.

    Iheanacho is a good player, if that time comes, now we are looking for raw talents, let’s go out and look for them.”

    This is Siasia’s second stint in charge of the U-23s. He led the team to winning silver at the Beijing Olympics Games.

  • Iheanacho is Imo APGA’s candidate

    Iheanacho is Imo APGA’s candidate

    A former Minister of Interior, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, yesterday emerged the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for next year’s governorship election in Imo State.

    He was endorsed by the party’s caucus.

    A communique by the party’s State Working Committee members and APGA lawmakers in the House Assembly said Iheanacho was endorsed following the outcome of a “painstaking assessment and evaluation” by the party’s caucus.

    The communiqué said the decision of the caucus was based on the assessment of the aspirants’ individual capacities and their ratings by the electorate and the public.

    It added that the views, observations and commentaries, which emanated from the APGA rally provided insight into the character of the individual who could lead APGA to victory in the 2015 governorship elections.

    The communiqué said several other factors were considered to choose the best candidate.

    It reads: “We, the Imo State Apex Leadership Caucus of APGA, have carefully assessed the progress and challenges facing our great party in the past years, with particular emphasis on the challenges for our quest to win back the governorship of Imo State next February…”