The Leicester City star is recovering from an injury, but he should be fit before the AFCON begins
The Nigeria Football Federation has revealed that Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho is still recovering from an injury. Still, he will link up with the team before they travel to Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations next week, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Eagles will be looking to claim their fourth AFCON crown when they travel to Ivory Coast later this year. Coach Jose Peseiro named a 25-man list for the competition, and Leicester City stars Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi made the cut.
Unfortunately, Ndidi was ruled out after suffering a thigh injury. In his place, Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf was called up.
Meanwhile, another source of concern is Iheanacho, who has been recovering from a niggling injury. According to a recent update from Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca, Iheanacho is yet to reach full fitness.
In a related development, the NFF has released a communique ahead of the competition. They have stated that Iheanacho is yet to fully recover from his injury, but he will join the team. After camp in Dubai, they will return to Lagos on January 9. Iheanacho will link up with the team there, and then they will travel to Ivory Coast on January 10.
Iheanacho's fitness level is yet to be ascertained, but it is likely that he will play in Nigeria's opener against Equatorial Guinea on January 14. However, he could play in the cracker against Ivory Coast on January 18.
THE ISSUE IS THAT WHY NIGERIA WANT TO CARRY HALF FITTED PLAYER TO TOURNAMENT LIKE AFCON. A PLAYERS THAT DIDN’T PLAY THE LAST FIVE MATCHES FOR HIS CLUB. IS NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING WITH HIS COLLEAGUES IN U.A.E. FOR AFCON. AND PASEIRO WANT TO TAKE HIM TO AFCON. THEN PEOPLE SHOULD TELL ME HOW IS HE GOING TO BLEND WITH LATEST TACTICS APPROACH IN TRAINING IN UAE.
IS IT A MUST FOR PASEIRO TO TAKE UNFIT (not 100% fit) PLAYER TO AFCON. OR ARE WE NOT HAVE OTHER BETTER PLAYERS THAT IS 100% FIT IN LOCAL LEAGUE OR IN EUROPE. INFACT WE ARE NOT SERIOUS IN THIS COUNTRY. EVEN IN LAST WORLD CUP, BENZEMA HAD INJURY THAT WILL ONLY LAST FOR ONE WEEK PERIOD BEFORE THE START OF FRANCE FIRST MATCH, BUT FRENCH COACH DROPS HIM.
**** WHY PASEIRO WANT TO TAKE NOT 100% FIT IHEANACHO TO AFCON????????????
True talk, am just fed up with the way we do things in that country, nothing is working in Nigeria. It’s very annoying!!!
I think the coach decision is not bad since the player in question is almost fully recover before the competition which will last for one month and the player will still be able to train with the rest of the team before and during the competition.I wish Iheanachor speedy recovery and the team successful tournament.
They should drop any half-fit player cos nobody can tell me that an half-fit player is better than a fit player.
Nigeria has good players that can replace kelechi Iheanocho
If ihenancho can only play knock out rounds that is fine, however they need to make use of the 2 empty spaces and fill it up with 2 players.
The real title contenders like Morrocco Senegal CoteDIvore are taking 27 players and their team is well balanced.
Talk less of super eagles that is inbalanced