Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen has explained why Sevilla forward Kelechi Iheanacho kept his spot in the starting lineup for the team that lost 1-2 today at home to Rwanda in the AFCON qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Iheanacho was subbed off just before the start of the second half in the 1-1 draw away to Benin Republic. He started today again on the right and after another below par performance he was subbed off for Samuel Chukwueze who scored Nigeria’s lone goal.
After the game, the coach was asked the reason behind the decision to keep faith in the Sevilla man who has been having a tough time since his move to the Spanish side on a free transfer from English Premier League side Leicester City.
” I told him ( Iheanacho) before the game that I will give him 45 minutes then replace him with Samuel Chukwueze and that was what I did. I spoke with him before the game and I can tell you he is an asset but he is under pressure from a lot of people including some of you here”.
