Super Eagles striker Kelechi Promise Iheanacho has admitted that his recent performances for both club and country have not met his usual standards.
The 28-year-old Sevilla forward, who has struggled to make an impact this season, has vowed to work hard and return to his best form, according to futbalgalore.
Iheanacho has found it difficult to get going in La Liga with Sevilla, and his struggles have also been evident during international duty with Nigeria.
In the recently concluded international break, Iheanacho started in both of Nigeria’s matches, though he was played out of position. His performances came under scrutiny as he was substituted at halftime in both games, intensifying the pressure on the striker.
Reflecting on his current situation, Iheanacho acknowledged the difficulties he’s faced but stressed his determination to overcome them.
“In general, football is not easy. Probably everyone will say that it is easy. Maybe they think that because everything is related to football,” Iheanacho said, as reported by Eldes Marque.
“Obviously, the way we play makes it look easy, but it is not, because there is a lot of hard work to do, both in training and in matches. When you are not at your best, at your peak, then it looks very hard. And that is when people think that it is a difficult match, and in part it is.”
Despite the setbacks, Iheanacho remains optimistic about the future, particularly with his sights set on another African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament with the Super Eagles.
After helping Nigeria reach the final of the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, he is eager to go one step further and claim the gold medal.
“We faced Benin and managed to qualify, but they are really difficult matches. We are happy with the way we performed and managed to qualify,” he said.
“I hope we have the opportunity to play another African Cup of Nations and reach the final to win it. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, because there are also other teams who want to qualify and go to Morocco next year. It was very difficult, but the team has a lot of qualities and everything went in our favour.”
Iheanacho will be hoping to regain his scoring touch when Sevilla take on Rayo Vallecano in La Liga at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on Sunday.
With his eyes set on his first La Liga goal, Iheanacho is determined to bounce back and prove his worth both for his club and for the Super Eagles.
