Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho found himself in a tense exchange with a Sevilla fan following the club’s recent 1-0 defeat to Leganes.
Iheanacho, who played 73 minutes in the La Liga match, is facing scrutiny both for his on-field performance and an alleged confrontation in the stadium car park.
According to Sevilla supporter Alvaro Palmero, the incident unfolded when he and a friend, Carlos Romero, approached Iheanacho outside the stadium.
Palmero claimed he questioned Iheanacho’s attitude after observing him laughing with a club employee and a friend. The fan reportedly asked, “What’s so funny after a loss?”
Palmero alleged that Iheanacho responded and engaged directly with the fans, and it was only the intervention of Iheanacho’s companions that prevented further escalation. Palmero also claims that one of Iheanacho’s associates insulted them in a foreign language.
The Sevilla supporter voiced his frustration on social media, tweeting, ““We travelled almost 800 kilometres so that a guy who is not even in shape does not know how to shut up when it’s time, and show the balls he can’t show on the pitch. “More respect for the only ones who defend the Sevilla FC shield properly.”
Iheanacho joined Sevilla with high expectations, having earned a reputation as a reliable goalscorer. However, he has struggled to find the net in La Liga, and Sevilla’s challenging season—currently 13th in the standings with just 15 points from 13 games—has only added to fans’ frustrations.
The clash comes as Iheanacho prepares to travel to Abidjan for Nigeria’s crucial AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda. The Super Eagles need to avoid defeat in either match to secure a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
