Afcon Qualifiers: Iheanacho To Lead Eagles Attack

Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho is pushing to lead the Super Eagles attack for their AFCON qualifiers after grabbing a hat-trick on Sunday.

In a video shared by club and international teammate, Wilfred Ndidi, after the match, Iheanacho was heard joking he’ll replicate the form when he joins the Eagles camp later this month for their AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho.

Asides Iheanacho, Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has invited forwards Sadiq Umar, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon for the tie.

With Osimhen in and out for a while due to injuries and COVID-19, many believe Iheanacho’s form is enough reason for him to lead the Eagles’ attack.

Speaking with our correspondent on Monday, former Eagles star, Garba Lawal, said with Iheanacho’s form, it would be difficult for Rohr to bench him.

“Every manager wants to see his players playing week-in-week-out and most especially the strikers scoring goals. Now, I believe it’s a headache for the coach to bench someone that is scoring week-in-week-out and put someone that’s off and on, that’s the reality, football is practical,” Lawal said.

“I’ve always had confidence in him (Iheanacho) because I knew he is always clinical and scores a lot of goals. I always like him as a striker. Sometimes he is lazy in the game, but once he has that half chance, he converts it and that’s all what you need as a striker.”

According to ex-Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, both Iheanacho and Osimhen have led the Eagles and delivered, adding that whoever the coach picks will be up to the task.