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Kelechi Iheanacho recalls doubts surrounding his Manchester City move

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Kelechi Iheanacho recalls doubts surrounding his Manchester City move

By: Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria international Kelechi Iheanacho has opened up about the doubts he faced when making his move to the Premier League, reflecting on the challenges that shaped his early career decisions.

Following a standout performance at the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, where he scored six goals to win the Golden Ball award, Iheanacho made the leap to Manchester City.

However, his move was met with skepticism as many questioned whether he could succeed at a top-tier club.

Iheanacho spent three years at Manchester City, where he won the League Cup in the 2015/16 season after being promoted to the first team.

He then joined Leicester City, where he spent seven successful years, including winning the FA Cup in 2021 and the Community Shield just three months later. His prolific performances with the Foxes earned him a reputation as a reliable striker and a move to Sevilla as a free agent.

Reflecting on his early years, Iheanacho recalled the doubts that were cast over his potential during his time at Manchester City.

Speaking to BBC Sport, he said, “So many people told me that ‘you’re not going to make it, it’s a big team, so many big players, it’s not really good for you to go there.’”

He continued, “Obviously, I made a decision as a family to go there. It was a great journey. So, thank God.”

Iheanacho’s resilience and success at top clubs in both England and Spain have proven his doubters wrong, cementing his status as one of Nigeria’s most talented footballers.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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