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Iheanacho says he’s ready to fight to regain place at Manchester City

NAN-S-7

Iheanacho

Abuja, April 22, 2017 (NAN) Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho says he is ready to fight for his place in the team, amidst competition from Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero.

The 20-year-old Nigeria international has scored seven goals this season, but has found first-team chances harder to come by than during his debut campaign.

In spite of only five English Premier League starts this season, Iheanacho welcomes the extra competition and insists he is improving by playing alongside great players.

“I cannot pretend that I don’t hear what people back home [in Nigeria] say about my lack of regular football, but I will continue to fight,” Iheanacho said on Saturday.

“I don’t worry about those comments. All I need to do is to keep working, keep doing well and keep improving every day.

“Sergio Aguero and Gabriel [Jesus] are really really great players that we need in our team.

“As a young player, I’m happy playing alongside these fantastic players because I learn and get better every day.

“It’s a big thing for my career to compete with these players. I’m okay with the way things are going and I wish Gabriel a quick recovery to return and help the team.”

Iheanacho scored 14 times and produced seven assists last season even though 25 of his 36 appearances were as a substitute.

That feat saw him finish as City’s third-highest scorer in all competitions, behind Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne.

At international level, Iheanacho has scored five goals in eight appearances for Nigeria since making his senior debut against Swaziland in November 2015.

He starred as Nigeria won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates for a record fourth-time.

He emerged as the tournament’s outstanding player, being voted the Most Valuable Player.

Iheanacho scored six goals to secure the Silver Boot as the competition’s second-highest goal-scorer. (NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Iwobi in action, Iheanacho missing as Arsenal, Manchester City draw

NAN-S-8

Draw
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, April 2, 2017 (NAN) Nigeria forward Alex Iwobi was a substitute for Danny Welbeck while national teammate Kelechi Iheanacho was not in City’s squad as Arsenal and Manchester City played a thrilling 2-2 draw.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Arsenal showed signs of recovery from their recent dismal run of form as they twice fought back from behind to draw.

The Gunners had lost four out of their previous five Premier League games, and faced City against uncertainty surrounding manager Arsene Wenger’s future, with more protests staged before kick-off.

Arsenal got off to the worst possible start when Leroy Sane put City ahead after only five minutes, running on to Kevin de Bruyne’s routine pass to round David Ospina.

Theo Walcott capped a spell of Arsenal pressure to scramble home an equaliser five minutes before the break at Emirates Stadium.

But they were on equal terms for only two minutes before Sergio Aguero’s powerful finish put City back in front.

Arsenal lost Laurent Koscielny to injury at half-time and it was his central defensive partner Shkodran Mustafi who rose above City’s defence from a corner to restore parity after 53 minutes.

Aguero missed two good chances for City and manager Pep Guardiola was furious that a late handball appeal against Nacho Monreal was ignored.

The result left the Spaniard’s side in fourth and Arsenal in sixth place in the table — seven points of the top-four pace.

NAN also reports that two banners were held aloft at the final whistle — and both summed up the confusion currently surrounding Arsenal and manager Wenger.

One read “Forever In Your Debt — One Arsene Wenger” and the other carried the slogan “All Good Things Must Come To An End”.

There were renewed protests from a noisy, but relatively small, group of Arsenal fans before kick-off.

It was to illustrate the pressure on Arsenal’s manager, but there were precious few signs of discontent inside the stadium.

The smart money remains on Wenger extending his stay as manager which stretches back to October 1996.

But this result and performance did little either way to clear the muddied waters around this part of north London.

Wenger insists his decision is made while Arsenal’s board say the next move will be mutual.

As it is therefore, a draw almost summed up what seems to be the current inertia among the decision-makers.

If Arsenal had won, it would certainly have made any announcement more palatable, while a loss would have made it a harder sell.

As it is, a draw means the uncertainty goes on.

In the other EPL match also played on Sunday, Swansea City and Middlesbrough produced a stale goalless draw.

The result did little to enhance either team’s prospects of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

Both sides created chances in a high-octane opening but the pace soon faltered as the players seemed gripped by tension.

Swansea’s Leroy Fer wasted a fine opportunity as he blazed over from close range in the 89th minute, while Rudy Gestede headed wide for the visitors in added time.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

I’m happy at Manchester City, Iheanacho says

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Iheanacho
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, March 28, 2017 (NAN) Super Eagles’ striker Kelechi Iheanacho has ruled out any possibility of leaving English clubside Manchester City “any time soon’’, saying he was happy to be part of the team.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in spite of some impressive outings, City manager Pep Guardiola has given Iheanacho only few playing opportunities.

However, the striker on Tuesday vowed to stay on and fight for his place in the face of competition from Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.

Iheanacho, who has scored seven goals from 24 appearances this season, said: “I’m very happy and very grateful to be in this team.

“I keep working hard every day and when I get my chance I have to prove to everyone I need to be in the squad.

“It’s a great squad with great players. Everyone is working really hard. So, everyone should be happy being in this team.

“It’s a great team. The supporters give us everything. So, we need to keep fighting for the team and the fans.

“I am improving every day. I keep learning and improving and that will help me in the future. I love it here,” he was quoted on the club’s website as saying.(NAN)
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(Edited By Hajia Sani and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Manchester City frustrated by resilient Stoke

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League
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, March 8, 2017 (NAN) Manchester City’s English Premier League title hopes suffered a potentially-decisive blow after they were held by a resolute Stoke FC side on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the result meant they missed the chance to cut Chelsea’s lead at the top of the table.

A win for City would have moved them above Tottenham and into second place but they could not find the attacking spark required to break down a well-drilled Potters side.

City boss Pep Guardiola had said before kick-off that his team could not afford any more slip-ups in their pursuit of the leaders.

Chelsea remain 10 points clear of the chasing pack with 11 games left.

Guardiola’s side were sluggish before the break and, although they improved when David Silva came off the bench in the second half, he could not make the difference.

Silva had City’s best effort when he drilled a low shot a fraction wide after a one-two with Fernandinho.

But, in spite of a flurry of late chances, Stoke keeper Lee Grant’s only save came from a first-half free-kick by Aleksandar Kolarov.

City are still, in theory at least, chasing silverware on three fronts and head to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup on Saturday before travelling to Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday.

It is a pivotal week in Pep Guardiola’s first season in English football, but this result means it has started in frustrating fashion.

The attacking verve that had carried City to four straight league wins and seen them hit five goals past Monaco and Huddersfield in the last month was, initially, nowhere to be seen.

Too many misplaced passes meant Stoke were under little pressure for much of the match, and City’s finishing was also wide of the mark when they did create chances late on.

Sergio Aguero had scored five goals in his previous three games but did not find the target with any of his three efforts.

Leroy Sane flashed a shot over the bar, while Nicolas Otamendi headed over from a corner kick.

City’s last chance came and went when Kelechi Iheanacho met an inviting cross at the near post but steered the ball wide.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

UEFA Champions League: Manchester City fight back to beat Monaco 5-3 in thriller

NAN-S-1

League
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Feb. 22, 2017 (NAN) Manchester City twice came from behind to beat Monaco 5-3 in a thrilling encounter in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg on Tuesday.

It was however a result which put Pep Guardiola’s side in a strong position to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

Raheem Sterling opened the scoring in the topsy turvy tie at the Etihad Stadium with a close-range finish, before ex-Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao headed in an equaliser.

Monaco’s teenage forward Kylian Mbappe then drove into the roof of the net before Willy Caballero prevented the visitors from going further ahead when he saved Falcao’s tame penalty kick.

Danijel Subasic let Sergio Aguero’s tame strike slip past him to make it 2-2 but Falcao’s exquisite chip restored Monaco’s lead.

However, City struck back in a grandstand finish as Aguero volleyed in an equaliser before John Stones tapped in from a corner.

And Leroy Sane added a fifth for the hosts when he fired in from Aguero’s pass.

The win means Monaco will have to score twice without reply in the return leg at Stade Louis II stadium on March 15 to deny City a place in the last eight.

The other round of 16 first leg tie saw Atletico Madrid score four away goals to take charge of their Champions League last-16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen with a 4-2 victory.

Saul Niguez gave the visitors the lead with a stunning strike, picking the ball up on the right before cutting inside and curling a left-footed shot into the top corner.

Antoine Griezmann doubled their advantage from Kevin Gameiro’s pass, after woeful defending by Leverkusen skipper Omer Toprak.

Wendell struck his own crossbar in clearing Felipe Luis’ cross and home goalkeeper Bernd Leno twice saved well from Griezmann.

But these were all an indication that Leverkusen were fortunate to go in at the break just two goals behind.

Karim Bellarabi pulled one back for Leverkusen early in the second half by finishing off a slick team move, but Gameiro’s penalty kick restored Atletico’s two-goal advantage.

Thereafter, Stefan Savic’s own goal reduced arrears once again.

Substitute Fernando Torres further strengthened Atletico’s grip on the tie when he nodded in a late fourth.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the return leg takes place at the Vicente Calderon on March 15.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)