Former Nigeria caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen has admitted that Kelechi Iheanacho was axed from the starting lineup for the Super Eagles 2022 World Cup playoff in Abuja because the Leicester City star failed in his responsibility to stop Arsenal's Ghana captain Thomas Partey dictating play in the first leg.
Eguavoen has suggested that Iheanacho was given a man-marking role on Partey and was also supposed to play behind the main striker Victor Osimhen.
The 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner planned to introduce Iheanacho off the bench in the second leg but with things not going according to plan and Nigeria needing to score a winner, that change never happened as he was forced to thrown in two out-and-out strikers Odion Ighalo and Umar Sadiq for the closing minutes.
Iheanacho silenced his critics by netting a brilliant diving header against Manchester United in his first game after the international break, and some people began to question the decision of Eguavoen to leave him on the bench in Abuja.
On why Iheanacho was dropped from the starting XI against the Black Stars at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Eguavoen said on SuperSport's Monday Night Football monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com : "Iheanacho you saw him few days ago his performance against Manchester United, and people were saying Iheanacho stayed too long on that field.
"Iheanacho we gave him a specific role in Kumasi. In as much as he's going to go up there and support Osimhen, he has a duty to perform by stopping Thomas Partey.
"He's playing as a second striker because Partey dictates the game but he was sometimes late in reacting that's why Partey had those luxuries.
"Since he didn't do that, I spoke with him I told him he'll start from the bench and at some point he'll come in".
Without Iheanacho on the pitch, Partey scored a crucial away goal for the Black Stars when his shot from distance squirmed under the body of goalkeeper Francis Uzoho and ended up in the back of the net, a goal which ultimately eliminated Nigeria.
"Iheanacho we gave him a specific role in Kumasi. In as much as he's going to go up there and support Osimhen, he has a duty to perform by stopping Thomas Partey.
"He's playing as a second striker because Partey dictates the game but he was sometimes late in reacting that's why Partey had those luxuries.
"Since he didn't do that, I spoke with him I told him he'll start from the bench and at some point he'll come in".
Without Iheanacho on the pitch, Partey scored a crucial away goal for the Black Stars when his shot from distance squirmed under the body of goalkeeper Francis Uzoho and ended up in the back of the net, a goal which ultimately eliminated Nigeria.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com
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