Kelechi Iheanacho has opened up on his return to the Super Eagles as the team prepares to face Russia in Tuesday’s international friendly game. Iheanacho, 30, returned to the Super Eagles after more than a year out, and he says his love for the green-white-green has never faded.
“I have been in the Super Eagles in general for a long time, starting from the U-12, U-13 to U-15, U-17 to Super Eagles so I have been very long here,” Iheanacho said in an interview from camp. “I’m not coming to the national team because of anybody but because of the love I have for the game and the passion.
It’s the dream of everyone to play in the Super Eagles as long as you are Nigerian and I’ve been living that dream for a long time to play in the national team from the junior level up to here. “Even if it’s five-a-side or U-15 the Eagles are playing and I’m invited I will play, it doesn’t matter because it’s my passion.
So it’s a thing of joy and I’m very happy to be here and hopefully we will have lovely outing on Tuesday.” After helping Celtic win the league and Cup double last season, while on loan from Sevilla, Iheanacho surprisingly joined Turkish second division club Bursaspor. Many fans questioned the move but Iheanacho posited that it is competitive league and does not regret his decision.
“As a player you have reasons why you go to any club that you go to in Turkey,” he said. “For me football is the same all over the world wherever you go to and you have to play football just like you play everywhere.