Super Eagles Need Iheanacho to Maintain Leicester Form in AFCON Qualifiers

Victor Osimhen

Gernot Rohr finds himself with something of a striking conundrum heading into Nigeria’s final two qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho.

The Super Eagles’ leading man Victor Osimhen is out of form at Napoli, having scored just once since the last international window in November, but has been Rohr’s first choice to replace Odion Ighalo as the team’s main goal threat since the 2019 AFCON.

However, Kelechi Iheanacho, who was cut from the Nations Cup squad by Rohr, has entered into the form of his life at Leicester City, where he has nine goals in his last nine games.

Dovetailing effectively with Jamie Vardy, while demonstrating his ability to work the channels, have an impact between the lines, and bring others into play, Iheanacho absolutely has to start for the West African giants.

Does Rohr change his approach to include both players, or will Osimhen be dropped to accommodate in-form Iheanacho?

And what of Paul Onuachu?

Despite scoring 26 goals in Belgium so far this season, the towering forward was overlooked for Rohr’s initial 24-man squad, only to be promoted from the standby list after Samuel Kalu was ruled out.

He struggled to impose himself during the previous international break — not helped by a playing style that didn’t play to his strengths — but can he now take the opportunity to assert himself.

From ESPN