Former Mutiu Adepoju has thrown his weight behind Kelechi Iheanacho, insisting the striker has done enough to earn a recall to the Super Eagles following his recent performances for Celtic.
Iheanacho’s form has come under the spotlight after his match-winning brace in Celtic’s emphatic Scottish Cup semi-final victory over St mirren, a performance that underlined his growing influence in Scotland. The Nigerian forward has now found the net six times in 18 appearances this season, marking a steady resurgence after a difficult spell earlier in the campaign.
Adepoju, who previously featured for Real Madrid’s reserve side, believes the 29-year-old still possesses the quality and experience needed to contribute at international level. The former Super Eagles midfielder stressed that Iheanacho’s recent improvement at club level should not be overlooked by the national team handlers.
According to him, the striker’s ability has never been in doubt, and his return to form with Celtic shows he can still compete at a high level. He also pointed out that experience remains a crucial factor, especially as Nigeria prepares for a busy run of international fixtures in the coming months.
Iheanacho has not featured regularly for Nigeria in recent times, having struggled with injuries and inconsistency during his stint at Sevilla, which ultimately saw him fall out of favour in the national team setup. However, his recent performances in Scotland appear to have reignited discussions about a potential comeback.
With the Super Eagles set to compete in upcoming tournaments and friendly matches, Adepoju believes the door should remain open for the former Leicester City forward if he continues his upward trajectory.
For Iheanacho, the focus remains on maintaining his momentum with Celtic as the season approaches its decisive stage. But if his current form continues, calls for his return to the national team may only grow louder.
