SENIORMAN KELZ SAYS GOODBYE
Kelechi Iheanacho has called time on his footballing days at Leicester City after spending seven years at the club. Seniorman Kelz, as he was fondly called, and Leicester City have mutually decided to part ways.
The Nigerian hitman arrived in the summer of 2017 from Manchester City for a reported £25 million fee. The 27-year-old attacker was a popular figure during his time with the Foxes. He secured cult hero status with his clutch performances for the club in the 2020-21 season, playing a starring role as they lifted the English FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history and finished fifth in the Premier League. He scored a brace against Manchester United in the quarterfinals to send Leicester to the final four before scoring the lone goal in the semifinal win over Southampton. He finished that FA Cup season with four goals and was joint top scorer in the competition.
The Nigerian hitman arrived in the summer of 2017 from Manchester City for a reported £25 million fee. The 27-year-old attacker was a popular figure during his time with the Foxes. He secured cult hero status with his clutch performances for the club in the 2020-21 season, playing a starring role as they lifted the English FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history and finished fifth in the Premier League. He scored a brace against Manchester United in the quarterfinals to send Leicester to the final four before scoring the lone goal in the semifinal win over Southampton. He finished that FA Cup season with four goals and was joint top scorer in the competition.
He subsequently provided the winning goal from the penalty spot as Leicester were crowned champions in the 2021 FA Community Shield, coming on as a substitute to grab the winner against his former employers, Manchester City. He famously went on a goalscoring run of 12 goals in 10 games in March and April 2021, and an air of inevitability surrounded him at that point. He picked up the Premier League Player of the Month award in March 2021 for his efforts, bagging his first Premier League hat trick in that period.
He bagged the EFL Championship trophy in his final season as Leicester earned promotion back to the English top flight. He recorded 61 goals and 34 assists across 232 appearances in all competitions. He leaves Leicester with winners’ medals in the FA Cup, Community Shield, and EFL Championship, picking up the Leicester City Player of the Year Award at the end of the 2022-2023 season.
A TALE OF TWO FIRSTS
The Atlas Lions faced off against Zambia in Agadir and expectedly picked up the three points. Hakim Ziyech gave them an early lead in the match with a penalty after Youssef En-Nesyri was clipped in the box.
Eliesse Ben Seghir and Brahim Diaz combined shortly after the hour mark to double Morocco’s lead against Zambia. The teenager tapped Diaz’s cutback into the back of the net following a well-worked team move. The 19-year-old winger is now off the mark in what happened to be his third international appearance. The youngster has been a revelation for Monaco since his dream debut in December 2022 for the French club.
Brahim Diaz could have had a goal or two but will feel disappointed that he couldn’t get off the mark for Morocco in this qualifying match. He’ll be pleased with his efforts nonetheless as he recorded his first goal involvement after laying on an assist for the teenage youngster’s maiden goal in Moroccan colors.
Zambia grabbed a consolation goal late on through Edward Chilufya who showed pace and power to race past the Moroccan defenders and finish superbly beyond Yassine Bounou. The 2022 World Cup semi finalists are three points clear at the top of Group E with six points from two matches. A perfect record!
GHANA TRIUMPHS IN ENTERTAINING CLASSIC
The Black Stars of Ghana took another significant step toward World Cup qualification by defeating the Central African Republic in Kumasi, securing their second win of the year.
Ghana struck first early in the match when Ayew coolly converted a penalty after Abdul Fatawu Issahaku was fouled in the 18-yard box, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. The Central African Republic responded quickly, with Louis Mafouta racing onto a perfectly weighted ball over the defense by Geoffrey Kondogbia, setting it up superbly, and firing it beyond the keeper into the net. Game on!
Mafouta capitalized on a series of errors by Ghanaian players to score his second goal, firing the ball through the legs of the Ghanaian goalkeeper and giving the away side the lead just before the break. However, the Black Stars were not going to be outdone at home. Ayew connected beautifully with a cross from G. Mensah to score his second goal at the stroke of the hour mark. Much has been made of Otto Addo’s decision to leave his brother Andre Ayew out of the squad for this round of qualifiers, but the younger Ayew has shown he is more than capable of filling the vacant goalscoring boots left behind by his brother.
Fatawu was a constant threat to the Central African Republic’s defense and was duly rewarded for his efforts, finishing off a well-worked team move. Thomas Partey set up the ball for him on the edge of the box, and the winger fired it goalwards. The shot took a wicked deflection, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. Comeback complete! Crystal Palace hitman Jordan Ayew put clear daylight between the sides by completing his hat-trick in the 69th minute. Kudus’ shot in the box was saved, and Ayew reacted quickest to force it into the back of the net. Hat-trick hero!
The entertainment wasn’t over yet, as Les Fauves grabbed a third goal in the closing minutes of the game. Mafouta stood over a free kick from about 30 yards out and struck it beautifully over the wall and into the net, leaving the diving goalkeeper helpless. Another hat-trick on the night set up a tense finish at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. Unfortunately, a magical night for the striker wasn’t enough to secure a point for his side.
Ghana currently sits atop Group I with nine points from four matches, while the Central African Republic is fifth with four points from four matches.
CAMEROON OUTCLASS CAPE VERDE
Cameroon romped their way to the top of the table with a resounding 4-1 victory over Cape Verde.
Michael Ngadeu set the tone for Cameroon’s rout early in the match, giving them the lead with an emphatic header in the 13th minute from Moumi Ngamaleu’s cross. Star attacker Vincent Aboubakar doubled the lead within the space of twelve minutes. A corner worked short allowing Aboubakar to grab his first goal from another Ngamaleu cross, catching Cape Verde out with the smart corner routine.
Cape Verde halved the deficit in the 37th minute from Jamiro Monteiro’s close-range finish. Cameroon extinguished any hope of a comeback for the visitors as Captain Aboubakar grabbed his second from a penalty in the 44th minute after Ngamaleu was brought down in the 18-yard box.
Cape Verde simply couldn’t handle the Dynamo Moscow attacker. Nouhou Tolo grabbed the final goal for the Indomitable Lions with another header. Goalscorer Ngadeu turned provider on this occasion as Tolo prodded home the ball from his cross. Another corner, another goal! Cameroon survived a scare late on as Andre Onana kept out Kevin Pina’s stoppage-time penalty.
This resounding win has boosted qualification chances for Cameroon while Cape Verde has their hopes of qualification slipping away gradually. Cameroon now sits first tied on seven points with Libya albeit with a superior goal difference. Marc Brys would be pleased with the result of his first game in charge of the Indomitable Lions.
AND YET ANOTHER DRAW
The Super Eagles put in an unconvincing performance and failed to grab the three points against South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. Both sides faced off at the 2023 African Cup of Nations, and the Super Eagles came out on top, defeating the visitors on penalties and progressing to the finals. This was their first match under new head coach Finidi George and their third qualifying match.
South Africa went close as midfielder Teboho Mokoena crashed his free kick against the top of the bar in the 17th minute. Themba Zwane was at the heart of the action afterwards showing quick feet, dancing away from the Nigerian center backs and fired the ball into the bottom right corner in the 29th minute, finishing off a well worked team move. Khuliso Mudau came close to doubling the lead shortly after but he sent the chance begging. The South African goalie denied Onuachu’s header just before the break.
Nigeria equalized 37 seconds after the restart as Fisayo Dele-Bashiru fired in a fantastic low strike. Receiving a pass from Iwobi on the edge of the box, he held off his marker and he spun around to fire the ball emphatically into the net. A dream debut for the midfielder! Percy Tau should have grabbed the winner but lost his clinical edge and spurned the chance. Penalty shouts fell on deaf ears as Dele-Bashiru was taken out by Mothobi Mvala in the 18 yard box. Nigeria went close afterward but Chukwueze’s shot cannoned off the crossbar. Terem Moffi could have grabbed the winner late on but Ronwen Williams came off his line expertly and gathered the ball. The match ended on level terms. The 2023 AFCON semi-finalists sit in 5th place in Group C, having failed to pick up a win from their three matches so far.