AFCON 2023: Iheanacho’s latest fitness update raises fresh concerns

Leicester City’s Head Coach, Enzo Maresca has raised fresh concerns about Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho’s fitness.

Maresca who spoke to newsmen during a pre-match press conference on Friday in the U.K, said Iheanacho was still injured and his fitness still being assessed by the club’s medical team.

Super Eagles, the three-time African champions will begin their quest for a fourth title on Sunday against Equatorial Guinea, before facing Cote d’ivoure on Jan. 18, and Guinea-Bissau Jan. 22, in the group stage.

Iheanacho was initially billed to join the team in Nigeria before their departure to Cote d’Ivoire for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

However his arrival date was shifted by his English Championship club side to Saturday.

Super Eagles gaffer Jose Peseiro told newsmen after the team’s training session in Abidjan on Friday that Iheanacho’s arrival was being delayed by his club.

Peseiro explained that the club wanted to be 100 percent sure that Iheanacho was fit and ready for training before sanctioning his trip to Cote d’Ivoire to team up with the Super Eagles.

It now appears like his trip on Saturday might not be feasible anymore as his fitness is still in doubt.

Maresca’s statement has cast doubts on Iheanacho’s participation at the AFCON while Peseiro now faces a race against time to draft in a replacement.

The AFCON’s rule only permits teams to replace injured players 24 hours before their first game of the tournament.

Nigeria have already made three adjustments to the squad due to injury.

The injured trio of Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Boniface and Sadiq Umar have been replaced by Alhassan Yusuf, Terem Moffi and Paul Onuachu.