SPORTS: Kelechi Iheanacho will not play FIFA U20 World Cup

Coach Manu Garba: Iheanacho will not play with flying eagle

Manu Garba, technical adviser of Nigeria’s U20 national team, has said that the Flying Eagles are preparing to play without youngster Kelechi Iheanacho at the forthcoming Fifa U20 World Cup in New Zealand that starts on May 30.

Iheanacho, who could not play in the African Youth Championship in Senegal due to injury, may not also be available for the World Cup if he fails to reach full fitness in time.

“I’m just hearing from you about ‘the condition given by Manchester City before his release’.

I can’t tell you anything about Iheanacho because I have not gotten any official report on him. We are focused on the players we’ve already gotten to represent the country,” Garba told Goal.

“I cannot discuss about his progress because I’m not with him neither do we know his state of fitness. Though I’ve been in contact, the boy is very keen in coming to play for the country.

“Same way the club (Man City) are also eager to see him play, though they insist he must be fit and injury-free before being released. They did promise to release him as soon as they attest to his fitness. If they do, we are always happy and ready to have in the team,” the former Gombe United gaffer continued.

“At the moment, we are focused on preparing the players we have on ground for the U20 World Cup. We are hopeful on having him in the team to contribute his best to helping the country at the World Cup.

“The NFF are doing everything they can do in ensuring his release. But this technical crew is focused on working with the players available to ensure the country succeeds at the championship in case he is not fit,” he concluded.

Earlier, assistant coach Nduka Ugbade had told Goal that the midfielder had returned to full training at Manchester City and he is likely to feature in Monday’s FA Youth Cup final second leg clash with Chelsea.

Ugbade said: “The Sports Director of Manchester City told us Iheanacho is okay, but they want him play one or two games without any injury concerns because they have given their words to allow him to join us to the training camp in Germany if he is fully fit.