Kelechi Iheanacho couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to Turkish football, scoring and setting up another as Bursaspor opened their season with a win.
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Kelechi Iheanacho marked his Bursaspor debut with a goal and an assist as the club began their new campaign with a 2-0 away win over Bodrum FK on Sunday, earning the Nigerian forward the Man of the Match award in the process.
Iheanacho opened the scoring for the visitors before turning provider for Bursaspor’s second goal, a complete individual performance on his first outing for the club. He didn’t hide his satisfaction afterward, speaking to Bein Sports about the significance of the result.
“I’m very happy,” Iheanacho said. “Early matches are tough. I’m delighted we won. I’m also thrilled to have scored a goal and provided an assist. I hope I can be successful here and win some trophies.”
The 29 year old joined Bursaspor on a free transfer last month after his contract at Celtic was cut short, closing out a brief spell in Scotland that had included a Scottish Premiership title. Fans following his fresh start in Turkey can check Bet9ja’s current promo code ahead of Bursaspor’s next fixture.
Sunday’s performance offers a welcome contrast to a stretch of his career that hadn’t gone entirely to plan. Iheanacho struggled for form during a difficult spell at Sevilla, managing no league goals across six months before a loan move to Middlesbrough, and his season at Celtic, while ending in silverware, never fully established him as the club’s first choice striker. New Bet9ja users following Nigerian forwards abroad can check how to get the Bet9ja promotion code before the new season builds momentum.
The bulk of Iheanacho’s career, though, remains built on a genuinely impressive foundation. He broke through at Manchester City, scoring in the penalty shootout as the club won the 2016 EFL Cup, before a club record £25 million move to Leicester City in 2017, a fee that was, at the time, the highest ever paid for a Nigerian player. He went on to make over 200 appearances for the Foxes and lifted the FA Cup with the club in 2021 alongside fellow Super Eagles star Wilfred Ndidi.
His international résumé carries similar weight. Iheanacho was named player of the tournament and top scorer as Nigeria won the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup, and more recently was part of the Super Eagles squad that finished runners up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, narrowly losing the final to Cote d’Ivoire. Punters following Iheanacho’s Turkish chapter can check Bet9ja’s YOHAIG code as the Turkish Super Lig season gets underway.
A goal, an assist and a Man of the Match award on debut is exactly the kind of statement Iheanacho needed after a few uneven years, and Bursaspor will be hoping it’s the start of a productive spell in Turkey rather than a one off.
📌 Did You Know?
- Iheanacho was named player of the tournament and top scorer as Nigeria won the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup, where he also collected the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.
- His £25 million move from Manchester City to Leicester City in 2017 was, at the time, the highest fee ever paid for a Nigerian player.
- Iheanacho scored in the penalty shootout as Manchester City won the 2016 EFL Cup.
- He made over 200 appearances for Leicester City and lifted the FA Cup with the club in 2021.
- Iheanacho was part of Nigeria’s squad that finished runners up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
- His one year spell at Celtic included winning the Scottish Premiership title before his move on to Bursaspor.
- He was born in Owerri, Imo State, on 3 October 1996.
