The decision to represent Nigeria at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations has put the club future of one of the stars of the team in jeopardy, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Nigeria went all the way to the final of the tournament before losing 1-2 to the host Cote d’Ivoire in the final. More misery is now on one of the players who played in that final for the Super Eagles.
That player is Kelechi Iheanacho, who hasn’t gotten a look in for any league game since returning from the tournament , where he played in only two games and scored the decisive penalty that sent Nigeria into the final.
Iheanacho went against the wish of coach Enzo Maresca by agreeing to represent Nigeria at the tournament as he wasn’t fully fit after picking up a knock few weeks to the start of the tournament. The injury saw him arrive late for the tournament and reduced his game time.
Maresca while speaking on the lack of game time for Iheanacho since his return from the AFCON said it’s not injury related, but decision he has to made and said with the number of players absent he could get a look in their game two days ago.
Now back at promotion chasing Leicester City, the 27 year old has only made the bench once in a league game which was yesterday’s 1-0 win away to Sunderland, and he was introduced in the 78th minute. The game also saw a return to action for his international teammate Wilfred Ndidi who missed the AFCON due to injury.
The duo will be out of contract in the summer and Maresca has long said a decision on their future will be made known in April.
Osas Mahawi