Iheanacho named best player in Turkey

Kelechi Iheanacho. Photo: X/@67Kelechi

Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho has been named the best player of the opening eight rounds of the Turkish 1. Lig by beIN SPORTS after making a stunning start to his career at Bursaspor, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Iheanacho was selected for the award during the beIN 1. Lig programme by moderator Turgay Keskin and commentator Tunç Kayacı, who also named Bursaspor the best team of the opening eight rounds.

The 29-year-old has scored 11 goals and provided two assists in eight league appearances, finding the net in every game since joining the Turkish club as a free agent this summer.

His goals have helped Bursaspor make a strong start to the campaign, with the club winning six and drawing one of their opening eight matches to move top of the table with 19 points.

Iheanacho’s latest goals came in Bursaspor’s 2-1 comeback win over Batman Petrolspor on September 19, when he scored twice, including the 85th-minute winner.

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The brace extended his scoring run to eight consecutive league matches and saw him equal the club record set by former striker Fernandao during the 2014/15 season.

The former Leicester City forward’s form has also earned him a recall to the Super Eagles, with coach Eric Chelle including him in the squad for Nigeria’s October 6 friendly against Russia.

Iheanacho joined Bursaspor after leaving Celtic, where he won the Scottish league and cup double last season.

He had previously played for Sevilla and Middlesbrough before moving to Scotland.

His prolific start in Turkey has quickly made him one of the key figures in Bursaspor’s promotion push, with the club leading the second-tier standings after eight matches.

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