Kelechi Iheanacho may miss out of AFCON due to muscle injury
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 11: Leicester City's Kelechi Iheanacho in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Middlesbrough and Leicester City at Riverside Stadium on November 11, 2023 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Kelechi Iheanacho could miss out on the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire because of a muscle injury sustained during an English Championship game between Leicester City and Ipswich.
The star was not listed for the team’s 2-0 win over Cardiff due to the injury.
Iheanacho has been named in Nigeria’s 25-man squad for the AFCON, which kicks off in two weeks.
Nigeria earlier lost Taiwo Awoniyi to an injury that denied him the opportunity to feature for the Super Eagles in the delayed football competition.
Speaking on Iheanacho’s injury, coach Enzo Maresca said “Kelechi had a muscle problem two days ago,” Maresca said after the game at the Cardiff City Stadium. “We are still waiting to see if it’s something important or a matter of days. But I don’t think he will be able for the next one (against Huddersfield).
“We don’t know yet (if it will affect his Afcon call-up). It depends on the injury. If it’s an important injury, he has no chance to go. If it’s not important, he can go.”
The former Premier League champions will miss five African players who have been called up by their national teams for the continental competition in Ivory Coast.
