Rose Onda
Nigeria’s Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho Sunday equalled the record set by Ivorian football legend Didier Drogba for the most goals scored by an African player in the FA Cup.
Drogba netted 12 goals in the competition before quitting Chelsea in 2012.
Iheanacho feat came in the 24th minute of the fixture against Manchester United at the King Power Stadium.
The Nigerian international intercepted a back pass from Fred to United keeper Dean Henderson before going round the goalkeeper to slot home from a close range.
Apart from Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, Iheanacho is the only other player within the English game to have netted 20 or more goals across the two domestic cup competitions since his debut for Manchester City in August 2015.
Apart from FA Cup, the forward has also scored eight goal in the League Cup.
Iheanacho joined the league of Super Eagles players who scored hat-trick in the Premier League last, scoring three goals in the 5-0 demolition of of bottom club Sheffield United.
He opened the scoring with a close-range finish in the 39th minute and netted again after 69 minutes from another Jamie Vardy assist. He wrapped up his treble with a long-range rocket in the 78th minute.
“I’m delighted for Kelechi,” said Leicester coach Brendan Rodgers. “I see improvement in him and, day by day, he trains so hard.”
It was also the first time the 24-year-old, who joined the Foxes in 2017 from Manchester City, netted in three consecutive league matches.