FIFA on Monday rated Super Eagles forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, as ‘Player of The Weekend’ in the first round last stage of the 2018 World Cup Africa qualifying tournaments at the weekend.
Iheanacho scored Nigeria’s second goal and the country’s winning goal in the match in the 43rd minute, which FIFA described as very important.
The world football governing body while praising the Nigerian over the goal, took notice of the way he scored the goal as he rounded up Zambian goalkeeper, Kennedy Nweene before slotting the ball past three defenders.
In describing the goal with the heading ‘Player of the Weekend’, FIFA wrote:
“Manchester City starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho, has been grabbing his fair share of the headlines in England, recently joining an illustrious club of just 16 players to have scored 20 Premier League goals before their 20th birthday.
“On the weekend, the striker scored an important goal for Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
“Iheanacho went around goalkeeper, Kennedy Mweene, and was just about on the line before turning back and scoring from an acute angle despite three Zambian defenders on the goal line.”
It will be recalled that Iheanacho’s goal in the 43rd, which was preceded by Alex Iwobi’s 33rd minute strike gave Nigeria a 2-1 win over the host, Zambia in Ndola on Sunday.
The win ensures that Nigeria goes top of Group B of the qualifiers. The Super Eagles will next host the Desert Foxes of Algeria on November 7 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
