Nigerian football star and Leicester City Forward Kelechi Iheanacho has no doubt distinguished himself in the sports world, in his home country Nigeria and on the world stage.
A forward for Premier League club Leicester City and the Nigeria national team, Iheanacho who launched his professional senior career at Manchester City during the 2015–16 season, went on to move to Leicester City in 2017 and has since established a successful career, proving critics wrong and boldly writing his name among the top guns in the sporting world, many thanks to hard work, determination and self confidence.
So far, Iheanacho, 24 has made 124 appearances, scoring 38 goals and presenting noteworthy performances since moving to Leicester from Manchester City in 2017. On the home front, at the international level, he has scored nine goals in 30 appearances for Nigeria since making his senior debut
Born in Owerri, Imo State, Iheanacho while just starting off as a youth represented Taye Academy in Owerri, the capital city of Imo in 2011, there he played till 2014. He made his senior debut in 2017 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Eswatini.
His impressive performances for Nigeria in the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup led to interest from clubs in Europe including Arsenal, Sporting CP and Porto. Iheanacho officially joined Manchester City in 2015, cementing his place and since then there’s been no looking back. In 2013, for his outstanding performance in the Under-17 World Cup he emerged the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) named him the Most Promising Talent of the Year for 2013 at the CAF Awards. In May 2018 he was named in Nigeria’s preliminary 30-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia
2020 ushered in a seemingly downward spiral in his career with no goals in sight and naysayers almost having the last laugh, but through sheer determination and a positive mindset, he held on strong and yes, it paid off, he bounced back stronger! 2021 has no doubt witnessed Iheanacho’s glorious rise in the sports world and we must say the future is a whole lot brighter indeed.
After being named March’s Premier League player of the month, he signed a new deal to keep him at Leicester until 2024.
His impressive career has seen him scoop several awards including:
Football League Cup: 2015–16
Nigeria U17
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 2013
Individual
FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball: 2013
CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year: 2013, 2016
CAF Team of the Year: 2016 (as a substitute)
FIFA U-17 World Cup Silver Shoe: 2013
CAF U-17 African Championship Silver Shoe: 2013
Premier League Player of the Month: March 2021
