Afcon 2023: Leicester City speaks on Kelechi Iheanacho’s injury

Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho is set to miss the Afcon.

According to Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca, who gave an update on Iheanacho’s injury after he was missing from the squad for the 2-0 Championship victory over Cardiff City in Wales on Friday night.

Iheanacho has suffered a muscle injury and is waiting to discover the severity of it, he is one of four Leicester City players who could be going to Afcon next month

His participation at the Africa Cup of Nations is in doubt. The Nigerian international was missing from City’s squad for the 2-0 win over Cardiff, and Enzo Maresca revealed after the game he had picked up an injury in the aftermath of the draw with Ipswich on Boxing Day. That news comes on the day that Iheanacho was named in Nigeria’s 27-man squad for Afcon which kicks off in two weeks.

The striker’s injury is still being assessed, so the severity is not yet known. But if it’s serious, Maresca said he won’t be able to represent his country at the tournament in the Cote d’Ivoire.

“Kelechi had a muscle problem two days ago,” Maresca said after the game at the Cardiff City Stadium. “We are still waiting to see if it’s something important or a matter of days. But I don’t think he will be able for the next one (against Huddersfield).

“We don’t know yet (if it will affect his Afcon call-up). It depends on the injury. If it’s an important injury, he has no chance to go. If it’s not important, he can go.”

City are expected to miss five players for January and potentially for the first half of February. Wilfred Ndidi is also in the Nigeria squad, while Patson Daka is expected to be in the Zambia line-up. Abdul Fatawu is in the preliminary Ghana squad and could cut the tournament, while Harry Souttar will be representing Australia at the Asian Cup, which also takes place next month.