Sevilla coach admits Iheanacho's lack of game time in Afconq was harmful, praises Ejuke

Sevilla boss García Pimienta has given the reason behind Kelechi Iheanacho's struggles since his arrival at the club and has praised Chidera Ejuke for his display against Real Valladolid.

García Pimienta admitted that Iheanacho's lack of game time for the Super Eagles during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda was not beneficial to the striker. 

The Manchester City academy product was a non-playing substitute in both matches, as Super Eagles interim boss Augustine Eguavoen opted to stick with Bayer Leverkusen's Victor Boniface to lead the attack, with Victor Osimhen playing the role of a super-sub.

Iheanacho has been unable to hit the ground running and was criticized for his performance against Real Valladolid, the La Liga matchday seven fixture played on Tuesday at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.

The 27-year-old was handed his second start but had no impact on the game, which informed Pimienta's decision to bring him off after the hour mark, with Sevilla in need of a goal.

Iheanacho has featured in four matches for the Seville club without recording a goal or an assist, highlighting his underwhelming form.

Speaking ahead of his side's trip to San Mamés to face Athletic Club, Pimienta was quoted as saying by ondacero, he said: "He has quality, but he came a month late, training individually. He is adapting. The two weeks with the national team, in which he did not play, did not do him any good.

"We have to give him confidence. He is a quality footballer for everything he has done and sooner rather than later we have to see him at his best. He has the capacity and quality for it."

In contrast to Iheanacho, Ejuke has looked lively though the end product still has to be better to establish himself in the starting lineup.

The electric winger came off the bench to score the winning goal against Real Valladolid to register his first goal for Sevilla and hand the Andalusian club their second win of the campaign.

Pimienta was pleased with the performance of the 26-year-old and is hoping he can replicate such performance in future games.

"For me he is a top starter. He came on and did two very good things. That's what he is there for, so that I have no doubts. I congratulate him from here and I hope he continues like this."

With his performance against the White and Violets, Ejuke will be pushing for a start against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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