IKENWA NNABUOGOR hails Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho’s spirited Super Eagles comeback.
It appeared Kelechi Iheanacho’s Super Eagles flight was heading to the Bermuda’s Triangle few years ago, but the Leicester City striker is back, better and with a bigger bang.
Iheanacho coloured his comeback with a glorious goal as he fired the Eagles goal in the one-all draw with Tunisia in a friendly earlier this month in Austria.
Sweeter was the return that his goal had a mark of a striker rapped around it – exquisitely controlling Alex Iwobi’s stylish pass with his left foot with his back on Tunisia goal and fending off a feeble challenge, turning intelligently and finishing with finesse. A sheer classy striker’s goal.
A brace was also denied the former Manchester City forward with his effort from the spot feebly not troubling the Tunisian goalkeeper.
Generally, it was a glorious return for Iheanacho who had been kept in the cooler as he struggled at his English side.
Coach Gernot Rohr did not include him to the Eagles team that grabbed their record eighth AFCON bronze medal in Egypt last year to compound his misery.
Rohr was justified – Iheanacho was nowhere near his best at Leicester City as he sat out most of the games and the few late sub appearances he managed to make were better forgotten in the archives.
Iheanacho’s ghosts were exorcised at Brendan Rodgers’ side as his goals began to trickle in when he got his chance in the side built around Jamie Vardy.
His goals in cup games kept increasing in numbers as his confidence also grew, but his goals in the Premier League still needs a boast to complement those of star striker Vardy.
Yours truly had charged the former Golden Eaglet to raise his game or risk a premature exit from the Super Eagles.
In truth, Iheanacho’s talent was not going to fade without colours after all, but he had the choice than to rise up to the occasion and get in the groove again.
Interestingly, he has worked so hard to get back into reckoning and announcing his Eagles comeback with a goal and assured performances, his past should remain in the past.
Though he has yet to find his shooting range in the Premier League, his general performance thus far has been encouraging, but getting back among the goals regularly will complete his comeback.
He still got Napoli “goalden” boy Victor Osimhen to contend with on his Eagles return, he must remain at his best to wrestle the top striker’s shirt from Osimhen or better still partner him in attack.
Currently, based on his performance lately in his country’s colours, Iheanacho could be regularly commanding the second spot in the strikers’ pecking order.
His Eagles’ goal record is also encouraging, nine at last count, in 29 outings and he will strive to improve them in subsequent games.
Still only 24, perhaps, he could be eyeing late Rashidi Yekini’s record of 37 and could be achieved if he continues scoring without a break, after all, he still got many years ahead of him.
But before then welcome back to the Eagles nest, Iheanacho!
