Kelechi not to blame – Ex-Eagle slams Orta’s remarks

Posted : 18 April 2025

Oluwaseyi George Olofinjana, the former Stoke City and Super Eagles midfielder, has come to the defense of Kelechi Promise Iheanacho, urging confidence in the Nigerian striker's ability to regain his top form following a challenging period at Sevilla. Olofinjana believes Iheanacho, who joined Sevilla from Leicester City in the summer, was not given the right conditions to succeed in Spain.

Iheanacho’s time at Sevilla was marked by disappointment, with the forward failing to score a single goal in the first half of the 2024/2025 season. This lack of form led to his loan move to Middlesbrough, where he is seeking to revive his career in the English Championship. Despite Iheanacho’s struggles in Spain, Sevilla’s Sporting Director, Victor Orta, publicly acknowledged his mistake in signing the 28-year-old, noting that the decision to bring him to the club had not worked out as expected.

Orta explained that Iheanacho was intended as a backup option, a third-choice striker, behind Youssef En-Nesyri and Isaac, but his integration into the team did not meet expectations. “It’s clear that betting on Kelechi this season has been a mistake,” Orta stated, adding that the club was currently reviewing the situation to understand why the signing did not succeed.

However, Olofinjana disagrees with Orta’s comments, stressing that the failure should not be attributed solely to Iheanacho. The former Nigerian international emphasized that the club’s environment played a significant role in Iheanacho’s struggles. “It’s not a Kelechi problem,” Olofinjana said. “The real issue is whether the club did enough to support him and create a conducive environment for success.”

Olofinjana further suggested that if Iheanacho had the opportunity to share his side of the story, fans would understand that the situation was more complex than it appeared. He believes that Iheanacho deserves more credit for his potential, and that the striker has yet to show the full extent of his abilities. “There’s still a lot more to his game than we’ve seen,” Olofinjana remarked.

The former Hull City midfielder remains optimistic about Iheanacho’s future and believes the Nigerian forward can bounce back from his Sevilla setback. “I believe he can recover and elevate his career to new heights,” Olofinjana concluded.

Meanwhile, Iheanacho is finding success at Middlesbrough during his loan spell. In his recent appearances, he has scored one goal and provided two assists in three consecutive starts, showing signs of regaining the form that made him a promising talent in his early career.

Kelechi not to blame – Ex-Eagle slams Orta’s remarks

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