Tag Archives: iHEANACHO

Ex-Eaglets coach accuses Guardiola of betraying Iheanacho

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Kelechi Iheanacho’s lack of game time at Manchester City is a form of betrayal by manager, Pep Guardiola, according to coach Manu Garba, the former Nigeria U-17 coach, who gave Iheanacho his breakthrough at the 2013 World Youth Championship.

Iheanacho has missed the last seven games of Manchester City. He failed to make the matchday squad on five occasions and was twice left on the bench by Guardiola.

Even the injury to Gabriel Jesus hasn’t worked in his favour as many speculated and Garba believes the 20-year-old has not been fairly treated by the manager.

“He (Iheanacho) pulled out of the Nigerian team to the last Olympics in Rio on the orders of Guardiola, who also made the club sign an extension with him. Fast forward June to this day and he can’t get into the team,” Manu said.

“It’s normal for him to feel betrayed by the man, who made him sacrifice the chance to play at the Olympics with Nigeria. He is a good lad and will definitely prove people wrong in the future.”

Iheanacho was listed among the reserves in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League game against Monaco, but he never made it off the bench. Guardiola preferred Jesus Navas and Fernando when he needed goals in the game against Monaco.

Iheanacho, Iwobi, Success key to Nigeria’s dominance of African football, says Rohr

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Super Eagles’ Coach, Gernot Rohr, is one of the newbreed German coaches trying their hands in African football. Following in the footsteps of such renowned German coaches including Otto Pfister, Rudi Gutendorf and Burkhard Ziese, Rohr has already started building a reputation as a very bright tactician.

In an interview published by FIFA.Com yesterday, the 63-year-old, who took over the Super Eagles in August last year, revealed his plans to reduce the average age of the players to create a formidable squad that would be unrivalled in the continent.

The German has already started on a bright note with victories over Zambia and Algeria in the Russia 2018 qualifying series. But he says he would not rest on his oars until he gets a team that would surpass the achievements of the Super Eagles of the 1990s.

“Winning our first two matches was a great start, but we will not play again until the end of August and early September, when we face Cameroun,” said Rohr. “They of course are African champions and will be highly motivated to take the form from Gabon into the World Cup qualifiers.

“I do not get carried away. It is a very tough group and nothing has been decided. But I admit that, at the moment, we have a small advantage and if we win our two matches at home against Cameroun and Zambia, we will qualify.”

Although Rohr is banking on the large pool of talented youngsters thrown up by recent age grade competitions to build a formidable Super Eagles, he has also kept faith with the older players to give the team the needed balance.

“As the team and the country had been deeply affected by failing to qualify for the finals in Gabon, I wanted to bring in some younger players into the squad. This, of course, is without closing the door on anyone.”

Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon and Troost-Ekong have already cemented their positions in the new Super Eagles, but the coach is still on the look out for emerging talents to create competition in the squad.

Two Things Iheanacho Must Do To Get Back Into My Squad – Guardiola

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Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has listed two things Kelechi Iheanacho must do to force himself back into the Manchester City team.

The Super Eagles forward has only started three Premier League matches this season under the Spaniard, and with Brazilian striker, Gabriel Jesus, set to arrive in January, his chances will be further limited.
With Guardiola opting for a lone-striker system, Sergio Aguero is his first choice.
When asked what would have to happen to get Iheanacho more first team opportunities, Guardiola said: “Change the coach maybe! (first)
“Of course he deserves to play, but there are many, many others who deserve to play too.
“Our job is so uncomfortable for these kind of decisions.
“Normally when these guys don’t train good, when they are not nice guys with his team-mates, it doesn’t matter, but that is not the case with Kele.
“My advice is keep going, keep fighting, (second) sooner or later everything is coming back, and of course he’s going to have his minutes.
“Until now he played good, but in the big teams sometimes that happens. You can play just 11 players and that’s all.”

Mikel, Iheanacho, other Nigerians fail to make CAF shortlist of African best players.

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The African Football Confederation (CAF) has released the names of five players shortlisted for the 2016 Glo-CAF 2016 African Player of the Year Award.

No Nigerian made the list.

The names of the 5 players according to a statement on the body’s website, cafonline.com are:

1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borrusia Dortmund)
2. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)
3. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
4. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma)
5. Islam Slimani (Algeria & Leicester City)

For the African Player of the Year (Based in Africa), the top five are;

1. Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns & Zimbabwe)
2. Keegan Dolly (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
3. Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe & Zambia)
4. Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
5. Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns & Uganda)

It said the top five was decided by votes from the members of the CAF Media Committee, CAF Technical and Development Committee and half of the 20-member Panel of Experts (10 persons).

The statement said that for the final phase, votes from the Head Coaches/Technical Directors of the 54 National Associations affiliated to CAF plus Associate Members will be involved.

Also, Reunion Island and Zanzibar, together with the other half of the 20-member Panel of Experts (10 persons) will be counted towards the determination of the eventual winners, it said.

The statement added that the 2016 Glo-CAF Awards Gala, sponsored by telecommunication giants, Globacom, will hold on January 5, 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria.

Super Eagles Captain John Obi Mikel was unable to make the final shortlist, a development pundits said was because of his lack of playing this season at Chelsea.

Mikel Obi, Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City and Alex Iwobi of Arsenal Fc of England were nominated for the awards.

Nwankwo Kanu is the last Nigerian to win the prestigious football award in 1996 and 1999 while still playing for Arsenal FC of England.

Iheanacho, Obaje, others shortlisted for 2016 Nigerian Sports Award.

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Orgnaisers of the annual Nigerian Sports Award (NSA) have shortlisted Super Eagles and Manchester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, as well as Godwin Obaje of Wikki Tourists and Chisom Egbuchulam of Rangers of Enugu for the Footballer of the Year award.

Unlike past editions of the Award, 11 categories will be contested for this time.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, the chairman of the panel, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo, said the award is about performance and not mere attempt or participation.

He noted that not much achievement had come from the Nigerian sports scene this year.

For the Coach of the year 2016, Coach Imama Amapakabo of Rangers, Samson Siasia of the U-23 Dream team and Are Feyisetan of Nigeria Powerlifting are the contestants, just as special sports person of the year (women) 2016 Omolayo Bose, Orji Josephine, Onye Lauritta, Ejike Lucy and Ugwunma Flora are the contestant for the Special sports person of the year (women).

Those for the Special sports person of the year (men) are Ezuruike Roland, Kehinde Paul and Nnamdi Innocent.

For the second year running, there will be no award for the best performing governor. But there are awards for journalist of the year (radio) 2016, journalist of the year (television) 2016, photo journalist of the year 2016 and journalist of the year (print) 2016.

And for the first time, the organisers have decided to give out recognition awards to deserving former sportsmen and women, as well as sports management bodies.

The prestigious Nigerian Sports Award is slated to hold on December 2, 2016, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

BREAKING: Akpeyi, Iheanacho and Iwobi arrive in Eagles camp.

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The England-based duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi have arrived in the Super Eagles camp ahead of this weekend’s crunch 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Algeria.

 

Both Iheanacho and Iwobi were in action in for their respective Premier League teams over the weekend.

 

 

As confirmed on the Super Eagles official twitter Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa are also in.

 

5 things we learnt from Zambia vs Nigeria – Ifreke Inyang

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria began their quest to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with a gritty 2-1 win over Zambia in Ndola on Sunday. But beyond the final result, what else did we learn?

Carl-ing on a pair of safe hands

So when Vincent Enyeama announced he was retiring from international football last year, there was almost a national day of mourning. But in the matches he has played, his replacement Carl Ikeme, has put in very fine displays. And the result on Sunday could have been different, if not for some of his excellent stops.

In Troost we trust

Gernot Rohr could have easily named William Troost-Ekong as the only defender in the team. He was a man mountain. Immense, quick and dedicated to snuffing danger. Kenneth Omeruo was all over for the place for Collins Mbesuma’s goal and the full-backs. No, let’s not talk about them.

The England boys

In the first half when the Super Eagles played some of their best football, there were two standout performers – Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi. It was the Arsenal man who opened scoring, with a sublime volley, while Iheanacho showed great composure to put Nigeria into a two-goal lead.

Captain Obi reporting for duty

Once again, John Mikel Obi, was an irrepressible presence in the centre of midfield for Nigeria. The Chelsea man, who is yet to feature under Antonio Conte, seems to be relishing wearing that armband for his country. He was denied a goal in the encounter by the Zambian goalkeeper.

They continue to roar under Rohr

It’s two in two for the German. And in both games, one can easily see what he is trying to do. The Eagles don’t look leggy and laboured anymore. There is more combination play and you feel with a few more tweaks here and there, Rohr will soon present to us a national team we can boast about again.

‘Ifreke Inyang tweets via @Ifreke

“Kelechi Iheanacho Is More Than A Finisher” – Manchester City Coach Pellegrini

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Manchester City and Nigerian youth prodigy,Kelechi Iheanacho scored one and gave two classic assist as city beat Crystal Palace 5-1.
The Nigerian youth prodigy has been receiving rave reviews from coach Pellegrini and city fans.

Manuel Pellegrini hailed new Blue hero Kelechi Iheanacho for his goalscoring full debut … but it was the two assists that really made the boss smile.

And the Engineer, usually reticent to lavish praise on individuals, especially young ones, said he had “no doubts” the Nigerian has a big future.

His performance evoked memories of Daniel Sturridge – and he has the same self-confident swagger,
on and off the field.

The 19-year-old grabbed the attention as the Blues cruised into the League Cup quarter-finals with a 5-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace to set up a home tie with Championship side Hull.

But for Pellegrini, the way he squared the ball for Kevin de Bruyne to score the second, and then expertly teed up Manu Garcia for his first City goal, meant much more.

“Kelechi for me is not just a finisher,” said Pellegrini. “He played very well. He must improve his control.

“But he always played with his head up so he made two important assists. He set up Kevin de Bruyne and after that, with more space, made a goal for Manu Garcia.
He can play behind the striker and arrive in the box to finish, as he did for his goal.

“It was very important for him to make a very good performance – he is a very good player.