Unfriendly face: Super Eagles striker Iheanacho disappointed over bench role at Sevilla

Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho is increasingly frustrated by his limited playing opportunities at Spanish La Liga club Sevilla. 

The 2013 Fifa U17 World Cup Golden Ball winner has been criticized by Sevilla and Super Eagles fans for his poor performance since the start of the 2024-2025 season.

The Rojiblancos signed Iheanacho in the summer as a replacement for Youssef En-Nesyri after the latter's departure to Fenerbahce.

He has struggled with goalscoring for both club and country, failing to find the back of the net in nine combined matches in La Liga and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. 

However, he managed to score a brace on his Copa del Rey debut at the end of October.

Sevilla manager Xavier García Pimienta has seemingly lost his patience with Iheanacho, given that he left him on the bench in his team's last two matches against Rayo Vallecano and CA Osasuna.

According to Estadio Deportivo, Iheanacho was very angry against Girona when García Pimienta chose teenage forward Idumbo over him as Sevilla searched for an equalizer.

The Nigeria international had hoped to make a late appearance off the bench in Sevilla's clash against Osasuna on Monday but ended up remaining an unused substitute for the entire game.

García Pimienta exhausted his substitutes in the 86th minute when he brought on Lucien Agoumé and Jesús Navas. 

The Spanish sports daily reported that Iheanacho appeared to understand the situation as he returned to the bench, still in his kit, while he took off his shin guards and put on his jacket with a logical and understandable unfriendly face.

Out of a possible fifteen La Liga games this season, Iheanacho has been in the starting lineup just four times.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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