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Football Kenya Federation Premier League side Tusker and AIK have confirmed the transfer of Harambee Stars striker Henry Meja to the Swedish club.

As the Brewers are beefing up their squad for the 2021/22 season, Meja, who scored 10 goals for the champions, has left to sign a long-term contract with AIK.

"We would like to confirm that our striker [Henry] Meja is joining Swedish top-tier side AIK on a five-year deal after completion of talks between the two clubs," Tusker confirmed.

"Meja signed a contract with AIK that runs until September 1, 2026."

"We have been talking with the club for the last few days and we have reached an agreement for his [Meja’s] transfer. Meja has been one of our standout players this season and it gives us great pride to see him make the transfer. We want to wish him all the best and thank him for what he has done for us this season," said Tusker chairman Dan Aduda.

"We will endeavour to give more youngsters a chance to excel just as we did with Meja, and it gives us great pride to see them prosper."

On their part, AIK's sports director, Henrik Jurelius, explained why they signed the youngster who had only enjoyed one season with the Kenyan club.

"Henry is a talented player that we hope to be able to refine to our direction," said Jurelius. "We have signed an agreement where we want to work for the long term and are well aware that it is a big process and a longer acclimatization period that awaits."

"I'm very happy to have this opportunity," Meja said. "AIK as a club suits me perfectly and I have got a great impression of everyone I have met. It's also fun to play with Eric Otieno Ouma [his international teammate].

"Now, I look forward to showing what I can do to my teammates and the club's supporters."

Meja, born on December 21, 2001, in Kakamega, made his international debut against Tanzania in a friendly match at Nyayo Stadium on March 15 this year when he replaced Sofapaka midfielder Lawrence Juma.

During the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Uganda on September 2, Meja was an unused substitute after he had been called up to replace Elvis Rupia in the squad.

Harambee Stars head coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee has strongly hinted Victor Wanyama's time at the national team, albeit in his reign, is as good as over.

The tactician was not amused when he was asked why the experienced CF Montreal midfielder was missing from his team. In a harsh tone, the tactician explained he decided there must be a change in guard.

Olunga is officially the team captain

"I think your last question doesn't make sense, [Wanyama] Mugubi is not in the team; then why talk about Mugubi?" a seemingly angry Mulee answered a query on the midfielder as quoted by Nation.

"When I took over, against Comoros and Togo, Wanyama was not in the team. That is when I decided there must be a change of guard. Olunga is officially the team captain."

The 30-year-old has so far played 64 matches for Harambee Stars and scored seven goals in the process. He has been a regular fixture for Kenya since 2007 when he made his debut as a teenager. Wanyama, who is a McDonald Mariga's brother, took over the armband from Kenya legend Dennis Oliech.

Is Odada Wanyama's replacement?

In Wanyama's absence, Mulee fielded 20-year-old Red Star Belgrade midfielder Richard Odada in Thursday's 0-0 draw with Uganda at Nyayo Stadium. The two neighbouring countries were meeting in Group E's 2022 Fifa World Cup Qualifier.

With Anthony Akumu also out, the youngster was picked ahead of Duncan Otieno and he did not disappoint. The tactician went on to boldly state the debutant has solved the midfield problem. 

"We have had different players coming in, and new players who were making their debut," Mulee told Goal.

"I was impressed with Odada, meaning he has solved our problem in the midfield department. He is just 20 and has a lot to offer. If you were keen enough, the selected team was a mixture of experienced players and those upcoming ones who want to be involved more often in future assignments."

Harambee Stars will play Rwanda in their second group game as Cranes tackle Mali. The West Africans lead the group with three points after defeating Amavubi by a solitary goal on Wednesday. 

The 2021 SAFF Championship will be held in Maldives from October 1 to 16. This will be the 13th edition of the biennial international men's football championship. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tournament was postponed from 2020 to September 2021, which was again rescheduled to October, after Bangladesh withdrew from hosting it. 

India are the record champions in SAFF Championship as they have won it eight times. In this edition, the Blue Tigers will be joined by Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and host Maldives. However, Bhutan has refrained from participating due to travel restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, whereas Pakistan FA remains suspended by FIFA since April 7, 2021, due to third-party interference. 

India will be opening their SAFF Championship campaign against neighbours Bangladesh on October 4. The final of the competition will feature the top two teams after the initial round-robin format and is slated to be played on October 16, 2021.

India

India are currently in Nepal to play two friendlies. In the first match, they were held to a 1-1 draw by the hosts and the second game will be played on September 5. Before travelling to Nepal, the Blue Tigers under the tutelage of head coach Igor Stimac held a 15-day camp in Kolkata.

The Indian team players will join their respective ISL (Indian Super League) club training camps after returning from Nepal and will fly to Maldives before the tournament starts. 

Bangladesh

The Bangladesh national team have travelled to Bishkek to play a Three Nation series including hosts Kyrgyzstan, and Palestine. Their first match will be against Palestine on September 5 followed by the fixture against Kyrgyzstan on September 7. They will also play a friendly match against Kyrgyzstan's U23 side on September 9. 

Bangladesh squad for Tri-Nation Series:

Goalkeepers: Anisur Rahaman, Mitul Marma, Shahidul Alam

Defenders: Bishwanath Ghosh, Topu Barman, Yeasin Arafat, Rezaul Karim, Mehedi Hasan, Atikuzzaman, Tariq Kazi, Rahmat Mia, Riyadul Hasan. 

Midfielders: Jamal Bhuiyan, Rakib Hossain, Tahmid Islam, Mashuk Mia Johnny, Sohel Rana, Saad Uddin.

Forwards: Biplu Ahmed, Mohammad Ibrahim, Rahbar Wahed Khan, Mahbubur Rahman, Matin Mia. 

Maldives

Maldives have already started to train from August 26 in Male, under interim coach Ali Suzain. He is being assisted by Ismail Mahfooz. They are not playing any friendly in this international window. However, they will travel to Qatar for a preparatory camp before SAFF Cup. The Maldives FA is also trying to schedule some friendly matches against local Qatari sides. 

Nepal 

The Nepal national team are currently hosting India in Kathmandu for two friendly matches. In the first match, they churned out a 1-1 draw. After the second match on September 5, they will fly to Doha, Qatar on September 10 for a training camp. 25 players will fly to the capital city and will directly reach Male, Maldives on September 27 for the SAFF Cup. 

The Nepal squad that are facing India are as follows: 

Goalkeepers: Kiran Kumar Limbu, Deep Karki, Bishal Shrestha, Bikesh Kuthu

Defenders: Ananta Tamang, Dinesh Rajbanshi, Gautam Shrestha,  Rohit Chand,  Suman Aryal, Rajan Gurung, Kamal Thapa

Midfielders: Ayush Ghalan, Bishal Rai, Nitin Thapa, Pujan Uperkoti, Santosh Tamang, Sujal Shrestha, Sunil Bal, Suraj Jeu Thakuri, Tej Tamang

Forwards: Aashish Lama, Anjan Bista, Manish Dangi, Nawayug Shrestha, Suman Lama

Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan football team are not playing any friendlies in this international window, but Football Sri Lanka have arranged for a 16-day training camp in Doha, Qatar to prepare for the SAFF Cup. The 27-member squad along with 11 coaching staff members will leave for Doha on September 8. Like Nepal, they will directly fly into Maldives. 

Anup Nag was a student of psychology. After a failed football career, he wished to remain connected with the sport by becoming a mental conditioning coach. But, in the late nineties, sports psychologists were a rare breed in India and the coach was the jack of all trade. 

Nag, an avid follower of European football, soon understood that it would be impossible for him to convince club officials of the importance of a sports psychologist. So he started going to the local ground and in the afternoons, he would just help a bunch of kids to get the basics of the sport right. 

"It was not coaching of any kind. It was more of casual guidance for my own satisfaction as I cannot live without going to a football ground even for a single day," Nag told Goal, drenched in sweat, after finishing a four-hour-long morning training session in his regular stomping ground at the Young United Football Academy. 

So it was destiny that lured him into coaching. For the next two years, he would continue with these casual stints with various small local clubs, until 2006 when he decided to take up the job seriously. "It was always spontaneous. People said that I was doing well with the kids so why not do it more seriously."

Soon he joined Netaji Brigade, an academy that has helped him produce several players who have gone on to play for Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. He spent close to 13 years with this outfit, before moving on to Young United, where he has nurtured the likes of Pritam Kotal, Debjit Majumdar, Narayan Das, Sourav Das to name a few. 

"For me, the hunger to learn is the most important thing. Then comes the players' quality and skill. I believe that whatever I am today is because of my players. I am saying this because, after the ISL 2016 final, both Debjit Majumdar and Pritam Kotal praised me in front of the media, and then other people came to know me. 

"There were other Bengali players as well who were trained by other coaches but they did not come into the limelight. Most players forget the coaches who trained them in their formative years. I am really lucky that way. It is always a bonus if your successful players remember you," he stated. 

Over the years, his routine has hardly changed. By 7:30 am, he would reach the Baksha Sporting Association ground and start working with his senior players who are vying for a break in the major domestic leagues like the ISL (Indian Super League) or the I-League. After a gruelling morning session, he would stay in the academy premises, have his homemade lunch and get back on the pitch at 3:30 pm to train the U13 and U15 batches. The afternoon session will go on for another three hours and around eight he will gingerly get ready to return home. 

"It is not too much. Even a private sector employee slogs for 12 hours a day. And I do overtime so that I get paid more. And the payment is not monetary, but more players in ISL or I-League."

Several offers come his way to coach teams in the Premier Division and he turns them down with the blink of an eye. When quizzed what about East Bengal and Mohun Bagan? Don't you dream to coach the Kolkata giants? 

"Never," he quipped immediately. "I will never go to a big club. You don't coach in big teams. You manage those teams. And I am a coach, not a manager. My dream is to produce quality players and work at the grassroots. If everyone wants to coach the big clubs, who will work at the grassroots." 

As mentioned before, Nag has hand-held many players who have gone on to play for several top clubs across India. And yet he has no intentions to stop in the near future.

In this season, Chennaiyin FC has signed Subhajit Majhi who plays in midfield. And there's Rahul Paswan who is tearing it up in the ongoing Calcutta Football League (CFL). The young striker has three goals in two matches including a brace against Bhowanipore FC. In the 2019 edition of the CFL, he was the highest Indian scorer with five goals, and in this campaign, he might as well break his own record given his rich vein of form.

"His best quality is that he is clinical in front of goal. He knows how to score. Hopefully, he will get noticed by some I-League or ISL club."

Nag is happy to stay away from the glitz and glamour. He has not even pursued a licensing course as he never wanted to coach a football club. However, he feels that it is time he pursued the courses, not because it would make him an eligible coaching candidate, but to become a better tactician.

"Now in academies also you need to have a licensed coach. It's good in a way because you get to learn. Let's see what happens."

The clock reads eight past 10 and he languidly gets up from his chair to collect his lunchbox and clothes. It's finally time to call it a day. 

Super Eagles have taken to social media to celebrate their 2-0 win over Liberia in their opening 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying game.

Kelechi Iheanacho's strikes in the first 45 minutes were enough to help the hosts commence their expedition for a spot in Qatar with a commanding display in Lagos.

Friday's victory pushed the three-time African champions to the top of Group C with three points after Cape Verde settled for a 1-1 draw with the Central African Republic in their opening fixture on Wednesday.

Football enthusiasts across Nigeria have not hesitated to celebrate the win, however, Rohr's men are also happy with their display in front of home fans as they kicked off their qualifying campaign with a positive result.

Neymar has laughed off suggestions he is overweight after recent criticism suggesting he is not in ideal playing shape. 

The Brazil star played the full match on Thursday as the Selecao defeated Chile 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier. 

French media suggested Neymar was out of shape after PSG's win over Reims last weekend, which prompted a response from the superstar after his exploits with Brazil.

What was said?

Neymar posted on his Instagram story, saying of the Chile match: "Did we play well? No! Did we win? Yes!"

He then addressed criticism of his weight, saying: "The shirt was size G (large), I'm at my weight. Next game I'll order an M," along with several laughing emojis.

What's next for Neymar?

After Brazil's win against Chile, they have two more World Cup qualifiers during this international break.

The Selecao face Argentina on Sunday in a rematch of July's Copa America final, which Lionel Messi and Co. won 1-0.

Brazil will then take on Peru on Thursday before Neymar heads back to France ahead of PSG's game against Clermont Foot just two days later.

Further reading

Jose Mourinho has told Granit Xhaka to seek out a Covid-19 jab after the Arsenal midfielder tested positive for coronavirus amid the disclosure that he is not vaccinated.

The Switzerland international missed his nation's friendly with Greece earlier this week and is expected to sit out their Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers across the rest of the international break as well.

Now, Mourinho - who pursued the Gunners star's signature with Roma across a busy summer transfer window - has urged the 28-year-old to reconsider his stance on not taking the vaccine.

What has been said?

Mourinho was spotted to have commented on an Instagram post from Xhaka on Friday, following the news that the Rossocrociati star had tested positive.

Having initially posted a photo to celebrate his latest international call-up, the playmaker was forced to watch on from afar for his country's clash with Greece, and now has been approached by Mourinho on the social media platform too.

"Get the jab Granit and be safe," the Portuguese wrote.

Switzerland explain Xhaka decision

Having seen their captain ruled out at short notice, the Swiss Football Association's head of communications Adrian Arnold explained that while Xhaka was recommended to take the vaccine, he turned it down as is his right to do so.

“Granit Xhaka was not vaccinated,” he was quoted by Blick. "He’s a player who isn’t vaccinated. We left this up to each player. It’s a personal decision of each player – just like any other person in Switzerland.

“We have issued a recommendation that everyone vaccinates. But he decided for himself personally. And it is also his right not to be vaccinated.”

Further reading

Christian Pulisic has revealed that he asked Lionel Messi for a selfie as a teenager when the two faced each other at international level - but that he was too nervous to actually speak to the forward.

The USMNT striker faced the Argentina legend five years ago in the Copa America Centenario, when La Albiceleste beat the Stars and Stripes in the semi-final en route to a silver-medal finish against Chile.

Now, Chelsea attacker Pulisic has recounted how he snagged a picture with the veteran forward after the game, despite the fact that he found himself tongue-tied in the presence of the then-Barcelona star.

What has been said?

"I played against Argentina and we suffered that day," Pulisic told The Athletic . "We were 2-0 down at half-time and Lionel Messi was incredible. I came on at half-time thinking, 'Oh no, this will be fun.'

"We lost 4-0. Messi and I were chosen for random doping tests after, so I was sat there next to him trying to be cool, aged 17. I told our doctor to get my phone. I had to get my phone to have a picture taken with him.

"We couldn’t really communicate and I was too nervous to try and speak to him, but I had to ask him for a photo by gesticulating. He was really nice about the whole thing. He probably gets it a lot, just maybe not in those circumstances."

'Can I ask you a crazy question?'

Pulisic also provided some greater context around his first international goal for his country, netted in a pre-Copa friendly with Bolivia shortly before the tournament, revealing that he had flown back from his prom on the morning of the match.

"The night before, I actually attended my high school prom," he added. "It was crazy. I had training with the national team and said to (then-USMNT head coach) Jurgen Klinsmann, 'Can I ask you a crazy question?' I told him that I’d missed out on so much and that all my friends wanted me to go.

"I knew it was in another city. Jurgen spoke with his wife and agreed to let me go. I flew to Harrisburg straight after training and went to the senior prom at Hershey. I had a long night. I danced the night away and went to a couple of after-parties. You can’t go to a prom and not go to the after-parties!

"I avoided drinks and then flew back to Kansas the next morning, sleeping on the plane for three hours. I was a bit tired and didn’t start, but I was subbed in at the end and scored!"

The bigger picture

Since their meeting five years ago, both Pulisic and Messi have only served to enhance their reputation, with the former building a sterling track record at Borussia Dortmund and then Chelsea.

As an incumbent Champions League holder, the USMNT star will be out to help the Blues defend their title - but they will have to do so with the threat of the Argentine and new club Paris Saint-Germain lurking.

Messi brought the curtain down on a one-club career with Barcelona weeks after maiden Copa America glory with his country earlier this year, and will be looking to secure longed-for European silverware at Parc des Princes.

Further reading

Nabil Fekir has opened up on his failed move to Liverpool three years ago, with the World Cup winner revealing that it was issues with his agent rather than an injury that doomed a switch from Lyon.

The Real Betis attacker was at the centre of a protracted transfer saga, with the Reds attempting to pry him away from Lyon in 2018.

The hopes of the France international, victorious at the World Cup that summer, were apparently scuppered by a medical issue with the deal all but done - but now Fekir says that it was his management that sunk the swap in the end.

What has been said?

“It was a dark moment,” the 28-year-old told The Times. “I saw plenty of things which weren’t true. It was said the knee stopped me going to Liverpool but that wasn’t true.

"I went to Clairefontaine [France’s football centre near Paris], and they did all the proof [medical] and the knee was fine.

"I had a problem with my agent, my adviser. It was the agent responsible for the deal not going through. Of course I was disappointed not to go to Liverpool, very disappointed because Liverpool are a great club."

The bigger picture

In the three years since Fekir - mooted as the final piece of the jigsaw for Jurgen Klopp following the arrival of Fabinho and Naby Keita that summer - saw his Anfield move collapse, he and Liverpool have been on different paths.

Following his appearance in the 2018 World Cup final, Fekir struggled to match his impressive 2017-18 form for Lyon domestically, and was sold to Real Betis the following summer, where he has since fallen out of international favour.

The Reds conversely went on to lift the Champions League in 2018-19 - what would have been Fekir's first season with them - before following it up with a first Premier League title a year later in 2020.

Further reading

Miralem Pjanic has accused Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman of disrespecting him after the midfielder left the Catalan club to join Besiktas on loan.

Pjanic spent just one season at Barca after joining from Juventus, making just six domestic starts last year due to injuries and lack of form.

Besiktas will pay a €2.7 million fee to secure the player on loan through the end of the 2021-22 season.

What was said?

Asked if he was disrespected at Barcelona, Pjanic told Marca: "The coach, yes.

"I couldn't get used to the situation I faced last year. I knew I didn't want it. I'm a player. I love playing football, this is what makes me happy.

"I always wanted to play for Barca but I didn't expect the situation to get so complicated. 

"There was a point that I was playing less, things were getting complicated. And when I played it was difficult physically and mentally to be well, because it was killing my confidence, because I had no communication with [Koeman]. 

"It was very strange, because a coach is the one who says who plays and who doesn't, but there are different ways to do things. I am a player who can accept everything but I would always like to be told things face to face. Not as if nothing happened and I was 15 years old."

Asked if he regretted joining Barca, Pjanic replied: "No, never. In life things that have to happen, happen. It is like that. I have fought all my life and my career, I am very ambitious, very competitive, I have reached the level of Juventus and Barca.

"I know that I can play for this team, they just haven't given me the chance to compete, to join a group, to help more."

Further reading

A solitary strike from Mubarak Wakaso handed Ghana a 1-0 home victory over Ethiopia in Group G of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers at Cape Coast Stadium on Friday.

The win sends the Black Stars to the top of the table ahead of Monday’s matchday two showdown away against South Africa, who played out a 0-0 draw in the other group game.

Ghana coach CK Akonnor put faith in China-based Wakaso and Real Mallorca man Mohammed Iddrisu Baba to marshal the midfield in the absence of the first-choice pair of Arsenal’s Thomas Partey and Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus.

Crystal Palace’s Jeffrey Schlupp was deployed on the left-wing, shifting Stade Rennes youngster Kamaldeen Sulemana to the right, while captain Andre Ayew and Jordan Ayew led the attack in a front-two.

Ethiopia coach Wubetu Abate unsurprisingly named an all-home-based XI, led by striker and captain Getaneh Kabede.

Despite being ball-dominant from the get-go, it took 19 minutes for the Black Stars to create a clear scoring chance when on-loan Reading left-back Baba Rahman delivered a ball across goal, begging a tap-in. Jordan, however, failed to connect, letting the visitors off the hook.

Four minutes later, there was bad news for Ghana as Schlupp went down for a suspected hamstring injury, forcing his early substitution by fellow Germany-born Daniel-Kofi Kyereh who came on for his international debut.

With little to do in the first half, Black Stars goalkeeper Richard Ofori-Antwi was called into proper action for the first time in the 31st minute, when Remedan Yusef sent a looping cross into the box.

In the 35th minute, Ghana broke the deadlock thanks to Wakaso. The midfielder’s shot from long range was fumbled by goalkeeper Teklemariam Shanko, who could only helplessly watch the ball roll through his legs into the net.

Captain Kabede attempted the visitors’ second shot on target of the day but his free-kick was no trouble for goalkeeper Antwi.

After the first half, Shanko did not return to the pitch, probably for his earlier howler, as his place was taken by Fasil Gebremikael.

The Walias did not only return with a new goalkeeper but also with renewed energy as Shimelis Bekele released a shot from long range, moments before captain Kabede also tried his luck with another effort from distance. Both attempts went off target.

In the 73rd minute, substitute Yaw Yeboah dispossessed his marker, drove towards goal and hit a powerful long-range effort which was parried away. Andre pounced on the rebound, but goalkeeper Gebremikael was alert to produce another save.

With Ghana clearly struggling for clear openings in the second half, Jordan tried a long range shot for a possible second goal but his effort was coolly handled.

In what was Ethiopia’s closest attempt in the second stanza, substitute Cherenet Gugesa drilled a low shot from just inside the box, forcing goalkeeper Ofori into a diving save before Iddrisu tapped the ball away to safety.

It was to be the last major chance of the game, as the hosts walked away with three valuable points.

Former Orlando Pirates marksman Phumudzo Manenzhe has questioned Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos' decision to field Mamelodi Sundowns defender Nyiko Mobbie at left-back in the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe on Friday.

Mobbie has not played a single match of club football this season and was, therefore, a surprise inclusion at left full-back, all the more so because he usually operates on the other flank, where Thapelo Morena was employed.

"The one thing today I thought, is playing Nyiko Mobbie at left-back. A right-footed player who is a right-back is played at left-back,” Manenzhe commented in the SABC1 studio, following the 0-0 draw in Harare.

"We did not get that balance on the left-hand side. Don't we have enough left-backs in the country? That is the question for Hugo Broos when he selected his team.

"Because you've got [newly-signed Amakhosi left-back, Sibusiso] Mabiliso on the bench. He has not yet played a game at Kaizer Chiefs. But he's coming from the Olympics, he was part of the team, of the squad. Why don't you start him, you've selected him.

"Because what does it do to Mabiliso's confidence, playing a right-back at left-back when you are there and you are not injured.”

Manenzhe did, however, credit Broos regarding the coach’s selections of the other 10 starters.

"Outstanding team on the pitch. I have to give it to Hugo Broos. An absolutely amazing starting line-up that he has selected. Just that he did not give us balance on the left-hand side," he continued.

"We needed a natural left-footer on the left-hand side, because Nyiko was struggling. As soon as he went past the half-way line, when he needed to make a pass...when he could see that he is in a pressure zone, he needs to move the ball from a pressure area to a non-pressure area, it means a diagonal ball is needed. He does not have the left foot to be able to do that.

"I just thought the balance on the left-hand side was what let us down."

Ahmed Musa is fast closing in on a Nigeria national team record achieved by Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama.

Musa earned his 99th international cap having featured in Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Peter Butler’s Liberia at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

With the three-time African kings winning 2-0 thanks to a Kelechi Iheanacho brace, he was introduced for the Leicester City man in the 84th minute.

The Kano Pillars legend went into the game on 98 caps, eight more than former Chelsea and Stoke City star John Obi Mikel, who quit international football after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations staged in Egypt.

Now, he is two matches short of Yobo and Enyeama’s mark and the ex-Leicester City and CSKA Moscow man, who has 15 international goals to his credit, could match their feat should he feature in the country’s next two features against Cape Verde and Central African Republic.

The Fatih Karagumruk forward had surpassed Mikel as the third most-capped Super Eagles player having featured in an international friendly against Algeria on October 9, 2020.

Musa shot into international limelight after helping Nigeria U23 win the 2010 Wafu Nations Cup where he scored goals against Benin Republic and Burkina Faso.

His performance saw him invited to the senior national team prior to the 2010 Fifa World Cup, although he did not make the 30-man squad due to an ankle injury.

At the 2011 Fifa U20 World Cup in Colombia, the former Kano Pillars man scored three goals in five matches and he was included by Fifa’s shortlist for the Adidas Golden Ball.

After representing the country at youth level, the speedy forward made his senior debut on August 5, 2010, in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification versus Madagascar – coming in as a substitute for Mikel in the 2-0 win.

He scored his first goal for the Super Eagles in an international friendly against Kenya in March 2011.

The three-time Russian Premier League winner has gone on to feature for Nigeria at two Afcon championships as well as two Fifa World Cups.

Also, he is the country’s leading goalscorer in the global football showpiece with four goals to his name, all coming against Argentina.

Kelechi Iheanacho’s brace guided Nigeria to a 2-0 victory over Liberia in their opening fixture in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in Lagos on Friday.

Iheanacho's efforts at the Teslim Balogun Stadium took his international tally to 11 goals as he closes in on Jay-Jay Okocha and Julius Aghahowa's mark of 14 goals in the national team colours.

The Super Eagles started the encounter on a stronger foot with the most attempts on goal and greater possession that paid off with two goals in the first 45 minutes.

Following a fine team movement, Joe Aribo nearly broke the deadlock in the opening 20 minutes but his effort lacked the power to threaten goalkeeper Ashley Williams.

The hosts kept pushing for an early goal which they got in the 23rd minute after Iheanacho fired his strike past Williams, thanks to a corner-kick from Alex Iwobi.

Liberia responded immediately with a free-kick from captain Allen Njie but it was brilliantly saved by Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. The Lone Star skipper was then shown the first yellow card of the encounter for a clumsy challenge on Iheanacho.

Following a long throw-in from Jamilu Collins, Iwobi headed the ball down for the Leicester City star who put the ball past the helpless Williams to double the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Immediately after the restart, Iheanacho had the chance to grab his hat-trick but his header was wide of the target.

Nigeria continued their dominance and just before the hour-mark they had another chance to extend their lead after a fine series of movements from Ndidi in the penalty area but the final pass could not be converted by Iwobi.

Victor Osimhen kept pushing for his goal and he nearly found the net with his header off Moses Simon’s corner-kick but it was parried to safety by goalkeeper Williams.

The Napoli talisman ended the encounter without scoring as he was replaced by Paul Onuachu and Bordeaux winger Samuel Kalu replaced Simon in the 78th minute.

A few minutes later, Nigeria made another double substitution as captain Ahmed Musa and Abdullahi Shehu came on for Iheanacho and Iwobi, respectively.

Aribo was replaced on the stroke on full-time by Watford’s Oghenekaro Etebo.

In the recognition of their individual performances, Iheanacho was voted as the Man of the Match while Iwobi claimed another one million naira as the Most Valuable Player.

The victory powered Nigeria to the top of the Group C stable with three points after their rivals Cape Verde and Central African Republic played out a 1-1 draw on Wednesday.

Next up for the three-time African champions is a trip to Vape Verde for their second group match on September 7 while Liberia battle Central African Republic on Monday.