The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Iheanacho

  • At sweet 18, KELECHI Iheanacho has THE world at his feet

    At sweet 18, KELECHI Iheanacho has THE world at his feet

    At sweet 18 today, Kelechi Iheanacho has the football world at his feet. The Manchester City starlet has now come of age and can now sign a professional contract with the English Premier League champions.

    The 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup MVP has already come of age during City’s pre-season training tour of the United States of America with a couple of goals and an assured all-round performance.

    Like AfricanFootball.com first broke, after a training stint at MLS side Colombus Crew, he will be loaned out by City when the transfer window reopens in January. He scores goals, has vision and a good dribble as well as packs a powerful shot in his left boot.

    However, the debate has raged on whether he is ripe enough to be capped at full international level.

    Coach Stephen Keshi has said he is not and he has therefore not called him up for this month’s AFCON qualifiers. His coach at both U-17 and U-20 level, Manu Garba, will disagree, though.

    “The Super Eagles can give Kelechi (Iheanacho) a chance. He is a highly promising talent and Nigeria could really get a lot out of him even at this stage of his career. Personally, I believe he is more talented than most of the top stars at Manchester City, who are only more experienced than he is,” said Manu.

    He added: “I’m yet to see a player of his age who can score goals around the 18-yard box with such class and composure like he does. In training with the U-17s, he often scores four, five goals. I’m therefore not surprised that more people are now talking about him.”

    Iheanacho’s strike partner at the U-17 World Cup, Taiwo Awoniyi, will also praise him.

    “He will soon prove himself in the EPL once given the chance. I’m not surprised at all by what Kelechi has shown at City because he has a great foundation provided by our coaches. He is a close friend and all my goals at the U-17 World Cup were from assists provided by him,” said Awoniyi.

    What is most certainly not in dispute is that sooner rather than later he will make his Super Eagles debut and a bright future beckons for him as long as he keeps his feet grounded.

  • Keshi’s grievance with Iheanacho

    Keshi’s grievance with Iheanacho

    • For dumping Eagles during CHAN

    A close associate to Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi has revealed to SL10.ng the reason the coach is not willing to consider Kelechi Iheanacho for the senior national team.

    Our source said Keshi initially had Iheanacho firmly in his plans for the Super Eagles  post World Cup commitment, but his failure to listen to Keshi’s advice angered the Big Boss.

    “Nigerians love to talk and make issues out of non issue, was it not Keshi who first called up Iheanacho last year against all odds and complains?” he asked.

    “Are you aware that Iheanacho would have gone to the Africa Nations Championship(CHAN) early this year? But he absconded from Camp to push through his move to Man City.

    “Keshi adviced him to stay until after CHAN and improve his worth with a super showing at the tournament but he ignored and wasted a good chance, maybe he might have gone to the World Cup.

    “He is paying for it now, because the CHAN would have been the best avenue to introduce him to senior football with less pressure, the AFCON 2015 qualifiers is too dicey to gamble on a youngster.”

    However, he assured that Keshi still has Iheanacho within his sight but only after qualification for AFCON is guaranteed.

    “No sane coach will ignore such a special talent but he isn’t worth the gamble of risking our qualifiers, after that he will be considered.”

  • Iheanacho enjoying his time at Colombus Crew – Officials

    Iheanacho enjoying his time at Colombus Crew – Officials

    Kelechi Iheanacho is enjoying his time  training with MLS side Colombus Crew, officials have said.

    Colombus coach Gregg Berhalter said the Nigeria youngster, who is on the books of EPL champions Manchester City, is shaping up at his latest base, but there are no plans to sign him up.

    “He’s enjoying himself,” Berhalter said. “The guys have embraced him; he’s doing a good job.”

    The move to the Crew was brokered by one of Berhalter’s old USMNT friends Claudio Reyna, the director of football operations at New York City Football Club, the MLS expansion club that is partially-owned by the same group that runs English Premier club Manchester City.

    “Basically, we’re providing training from an individual…He’s here getting fit, getting sharp, training in a good atmosphere where he can learn. That’s what it’s about,” disclosed the Colombus coach.

    “[Iheanacho] wanted a place to train. [Manchester City] approached us. … He wanted to play at a club and train, and I guess we have similar philosophies, values, so we said we’d be glad to help out.”

    Iheanacho, who is staying in a hotel in Columbus, will be around until mid-October, according to Berhalter.

  • Iheanacho nets hat-trick for Columbus Crew

    Iheanacho nets hat-trick for Columbus Crew

    Manchester City  youth –  teamer Kelechi Iheanacho bagged a hat – trick for Columbus Crew in their 5 – 1 defeat of Dayton Dutch Lions FC on Wednesday afternoon.

    The attacker is not a candidate to be acquired or loaned by the MLS outfit as he is only keeping fit there until mid – October before he rejoins Manchester City, subject to the approval of the Home Office.

    But if the Citizens fail get a green – light from the authorities,the Flying Eagles star will be farmed out on loan to another team to continue his development.

    That said, the transfer window in most parts of the world would have been shut, meaning the earliest time Kelechi Iheanacho can start playing professionally is January 2015.

    The Golden Ball winner at the 2013 FIFA Under 17s is strongly being linked with a shift to New York City FC.

  • Iheanacho should be in Eagles team -Garba

    Iheanacho should be in Eagles team -Garba

    Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba has said Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho ought to be given a chance to feature for the Super Eagles.

    Iheanacho has shone for English Premier League champions Manchester City in pre-season, just months after he was voted the best player at the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

    “The Super Eagles can give Kelechi (Iheanacho) a chance,” Manu told AfricanFootball.com.

    “He is a highly promising talent and Nigeria could really get a lot out of him even at this stage of his career.

    “Personally, I believe he is more talented than most of the top stars at Manchester City, who are only more experienced than he is.”

    Manu restated that above all Iheanacho is a top-class finisher around the box.

    “I’m yet to see a player of his age who can score goals around the 18-yard box with such class and composure like he does,” he remarked.

    “In training with the U17s, he often scores four, five goals. I’m therefore not surprised that more people are now talking about him.”

    Iheanacho, who will only be 18 in October, impressed in training camp with the Nigeria ‘B’ team ahead of the 2014 CHAN in South Africa, but he would later opt out so as to pursue his dream to play for Manchester City.

    Meanwhile, the support striker or attacking midfielder will not be available for Nigeria U20 team, the Flying Eagles,for a 2015 African Youth Championship qualifier against Lesotho on August 16 in Kaduna.

    “City have plans for Kelechi and so he will not available for our match in Kaduna,” Flying Eagles handler Manu revealed.

  • 2015 AYC qualifier: Iheanacho, Success to miss Lesotho tie

    2015 AYC qualifier: Iheanacho, Success to miss Lesotho tie

    Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho and Spain-based striker Isaac Success will miss Nigeria’s 2015 AYC qualifier against Lesotho.

    Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba further disclosed that Chidera Eze from FC Porto, Musa Yahaya of Tottenham Hotspurs as well as Dele Alampasu, who is training with Genk in Belgium, will equally not be available for the August 16 match in Kaduna.

    “Kelechi (Iheanacho) was to have been released by Manchester City at least a week before the match, but the club’s recruitment officer has called us back to say they have plans for him and so he will no longer be available,” Manu told AfricanFootball.com.

    “Isaac Success will also not be released by Granada as he has begun playing for the first team.

    “Tottenham Hotspur have said they will only release Musa Yahaya for the return leg match.

    “But we can cope because we have an abundance of talent.

    “For example, take the case of Wasiu Jimoh, who just scored four goals in a test game (against Amakson on Thursday). He has been on the fringes of the first team and took his chance with four well-taken goals.

    “And so we have the players to get the result we need in the game against Lesotho.”

  • Clubs chase Iheanacho – Man City official

    Clubs chase Iheanacho – Man City official

    AfricanFootball.com can exclusively reveal that besides MLS side New York City FC, Nigeria youngster Kelechi Iheanacho is wanted by several other clubs after he shone at Manchester City.

    A source close to a top Manchester City official has informed only AfricanFootball.com that they are yet to decide on where the Nigeria U20 star should now go to on loan.

    “Kelechi’s profile has shot up since what he achieved in pre-season in the United States of America,” the source said.

    “As a result of this, many other clubs are keen to have him and Manchester City are expected to soon decide where he will go to on loan.

    “New York City FC in the MLS is a possibility, but there are several other clubs who have come on board since after what he showed in America.”

    The source mentioned an opening in Belgium for the young forward, among other possibilities.

    The MVP of the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates scored thrice, which included converting his kick in a penalty shootout, during City’s pre-season training tour of the USA.

    He has yet to sign a professional contract as he can only do so when he turns 18 in October.

    Chidiebere Nwakali is the other Nigeria youngster at City. He missed out on pre-season training with the EPL champions on account of a knee injury.

  • Iheanacho scores again

    Iheanacho scores again

    Kelechi Iheanacho continued his impressive pre season form for his English Premier League side, Manchester City by finding the back of the net in the Champions Cup game against AC Milan last night.

    The International Champions Cup is a pre season tournament holding in Pittsburg and played between top selected clubsides across European Leagues with Manchester City in the same group alongside Liverpool, Olympiakos and AC Milan.

    The red hot Iheanacho,who came into global limelight after playing a pivotal role as Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets won a record fourth FIFA U-17 World Cup trophy in the UAE last year scored his goal for City,which was the fourth of the game against the Italian giants in 26th minute.

    Last night’s goal was his second in a row for the Citizens

    following his debut goal for the EPL champions four days ago in another pre season game against Sporting Kansaa City in the U.S.

    Iheanacho, 17, was voted the best player at the U-17 World Cup in December last year, taking home the golden ball, while also winning the silver boot for being the second highest goal scorer in the tournament.

    In January this year, he signed up for Premiership giants Manchester City and is hoping to be a part of the their team during the forthcoming season.

    Iheanacho flew out with Manchester City for their pre-season tour of the US and got to make his debut last Wednesday.

     

  • Iheanacho scores in Man City debut

    Iheanacho scores in Man City debut

    Former Golden Eaglets star, Kelechi Iheanacho, scored his first goal in Manchester City’s colour when he nudged the last goal in the English champions 4-1 victory over Sporting KC in Kansas Wednesday.

    The 17-year-old got an assist from Jesus Navas and placed his shot low into the left corner to give the Citizens a well deserved win in Wednesday’s contest, Goal reports.

    The visitors took the lead via Bruno Zuculini before C.J Sarpong got the hosts’ equalizer. But Dedryck Boyata restored the lead before Aleksander Kolarov extended it from the spot after Scott Sinclair was brought down and Iheanacho completed the rout in the 88th minute.

    The performance attracted praise from City boss Manuel Pellegrini after the match.

    “Iheanacho is just 17 years old and he’s a very important player for us in the future,” Pellegrini told Daily Mail.

    “He demonstrated today what he can do in the future. It depends on the way he takes this profession, but I think he’s a good talent.”

    Having not secured a work permit, Pellegrini said a final decision had not yet been made if the Flying Eagles playmaker will stay with the club or go on loan.

    “We’ve not decided yet (what the plan is for him) because it’s not easy. He’s just 17 and sometimes that’s the problem.

    “We’ll see what he will do in the future. For the moment he will stay with us and we’ll see when we return to England what will happen with him. But he’s a very important player for the future for the club,” the Chilean added.

  • Iheanacho, Nwakali released for pre-season

    Iheanacho, Nwakali released for pre-season

    Nigeria Flying Eagles have released Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali for pre-season training with English Premier League club Manchester City.

    “Both Iheanacho and Nwakali have been excused to join Manchester City for their pre-season training this weekend.They will rejoin us a week to our AYC qualifier against Lesotho next month,” disclosed Flying Eagles secretary Aliyu Auwal Ibrahim.

    The youngsters were involved when the Nigeria U20s eliminated their Tanzanian counterparts in the second round of the African Youth Championship qualifying series.

    Both Iheanacho and Nwakali have signed a pre-contract with Manchester City after they shone at last year’s FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

    Iheanacho was named the MVP of the tournament, which Nigeria won in fine style for a record fourth time.