Injured Iheanacho may miss Cote d’ivoire 2024 Africa Cup of Nations

Kelechi Iheanacho

Unless the doctors state otherwise, Kelechi Iheanacho could be ruled out of the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire by a muscle injury he copped during an English Championship game against Ipswich, reports leicestermercury.co.uk

The Leicester City star was not listed for the team’s 2-0 win over Cardiff, and manager, Enzo Maresca, revealed after the game he had picked up an injury in the aftermath of the draw with Ipswich on Boxing Day.

Iheanacho has been named in Nigeria’s 25-man squad for Afcon that kicks off in two weeks’ time.

According to the report, the striker’s injury is still being assessed, so the severity is not yet known. But if it’s serious, Maresca said he won’t be able to represent the Super Eagles at the tournament in the Cote d’Ivoire.

“Kelechi had a muscle problem two days ago,” Maresca said after the game at the Cardiff City Stadium. “We are still waiting to see if it’s something important or a matter of days. But I don’t think he will be able for the next one (against Huddersfield).

“We don’t know yet (if it will affect his Afcon call-up). It depends on the injury. If it’s an important injury, he has no chance to go. If it’s not important, he can go.”

City are expected to miss five players for January and potentially for the first half of February. Wilfred Ndidi is also in the Nigeria squad, while Patson Daka is expected to be in the Zambia line-up. Abdul Fatawu is in the preliminary Ghana squad and could make the cut for the tournament, while Harry Souttar will be representing Australia at the Asian Cup, which also holds next month.

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