“I’ve scored four goals in a game many times, but only in the streets with my friends. But never in an international match, never for my country. The feeling is amazing,” said Kelechi Iheanacho, after an impressive performance in Nigeria’s opening match of the Under 17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
Kelechi gave the Mexicans a big whooping which sent them running back to their strategy boards. Just imagine it, four goals from a single player and two more from his teammates as Nigeria routed Mexico, 6-1. No amount of ice cream and gummy bears would cure the sunken hearts of these U17 players from Mexico who went through the ordeal.
We here at the Sonny Side of Sports are very sure the scouts at the games certainly have Kelechi jotted down as a player to look at. The 17-year-old plays for Taye Academy Club in Nigeria and still remains humble to the T after proving his worth.
Will Kelechi follow in the footsteps of greats like Eto’o and Messi who all started their careers this good and this early? Has a star been born? Let’s keep our eyes on the ball as Nigeria and the other countries push forward towards winning the U17 World Cup.
Here’s a look at Kelechi’s four goals.
Kelechi Iheanacho is playing for a Nigerian team with a proud pedigree at this U17 tournament. The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have won the trophy three times (1985, 1993 and 2007) and finished runners-up three times (1987, 2001 and 2009).
***This blog post was written by Voice of America Intern Kwame Asante Ofori for the Sonny Side of Sports.
Congratulations, Kwame, for this concise but well-penned piece on Kelechi. This is in the true tradition of excellence that the Sonny Side of Sports has come to be associated. Kelechi is sure bound for the stars, if he continues to work hard.
It will be nice to read from you again after the tournament on Nov. 8…..on the stars that have been born at the UAE competition. More grease to your elbows, as they say in these parts!
My fiancée was just telling me about how Nigeria beat Mexico in the under 17 world cup. Now, I see who is really the driving force for Nigeria. It must be wonderful to have your home country be proud of you.
Sonny, Kelechi is a homeboy from Ngor Okpala Local council area of Imo State.It might interest you to know that he is from the same area with Perpetua Nkwocha, four time African Female footballer of the year.Imo, my state is a budding ground for football talents.Great players like Kanu Nwankwo, started their career from Owerri,Imo State.And four players of the victorius Under-17 players are from Imo State,including the assistant Coach Emmanuel Amuneke.I wish kelechi,the very best as he joins Manchester City Fc of England, for a higher career in football.
It wont be long and the African nations will be serious contenders for World Cup winners, the rate at which the game is progressing in the African continent at amateur and professional level is astounding.
They could be a real force in Qatar.
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