FantasyIreland
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 29 Oct 2008
- Messages
- 64,697
Nigeria wonderkid could make World Cup as Manchester City and Arsenal hover
---------------------------------------------------------------
Iheanacho must prove himself at African Nations Championships, says coach
Kelechi Iheanacho certainly seems set for a big 2014 – as well as being chased by Arsenal and ManchesterCity, the teenage striker could now be on his way to the World Cup
Iheanacho lit up the Under-17 World Cup earlier this year, scoring six goals and catching the attention of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini at ManchesterCity.
The teenager is in Abuja training training with the Nigeria squad as they prepare for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.
But so fast has been his rise, that Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has dropped a huge hint that Iheanacho and the other members of that Under-17 side that triumphed in the UAE could earn their places in the Super Eagles squad in Brazil next summer.
“Everything depends on them. If they can prove themselves and show that they can cut it at this level, then we will take it up from there,” Keshi told supersport.com.
“The Chan is a good opportunity for the home-based players to exhibit themselves before the World Cup. It will boost their confidence so we will see what happens,”
Manchester City appear to be leading the chase for Iheanacho, with the striker’s father recently revealing that the player has his heart set on the Etihad.
But with Arsenal’s reputation for turning promising young players into world-class stars, it would be difficult to rule Wenger out of the chase.
And if Iheanacho has the same impact in Brazil as he did at the Under-17 World Cup, you can only see the list of teams chasing his signature growing if his future remains unresolved by then
---------------------------------------------------------------
Iheanacho must prove himself at African Nations Championships, says coach
Kelechi Iheanacho certainly seems set for a big 2014 – as well as being chased by Arsenal and ManchesterCity, the teenage striker could now be on his way to the World Cup
Iheanacho lit up the Under-17 World Cup earlier this year, scoring six goals and catching the attention of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini at ManchesterCity.
The teenager is in Abuja training training with the Nigeria squad as they prepare for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.
But so fast has been his rise, that Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has dropped a huge hint that Iheanacho and the other members of that Under-17 side that triumphed in the UAE could earn their places in the Super Eagles squad in Brazil next summer.
“Everything depends on them. If they can prove themselves and show that they can cut it at this level, then we will take it up from there,” Keshi told supersport.com.
“The Chan is a good opportunity for the home-based players to exhibit themselves before the World Cup. It will boost their confidence so we will see what happens,”
Manchester City appear to be leading the chase for Iheanacho, with the striker’s father recently revealing that the player has his heart set on the Etihad.
But with Arsenal’s reputation for turning promising young players into world-class stars, it would be difficult to rule Wenger out of the chase.
And if Iheanacho has the same impact in Brazil as he did at the Under-17 World Cup, you can only see the list of teams chasing his signature growing if his future remains unresolved by then