Iheanacho wins CNN Goal Award

NIGERIAN international, Kelechi Iheanacho’s wonder goal last weekend against Tanzania has earned him the CNN Goal of the Week award.

Iheanacho, last Saturday at the magnificent Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, known as the Nest of Champions had scored the Super Eagles’ goal which dimmed the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

The victory of the 2013 FIFA U-17 Most Valuable Player was announced through the CNN’s official twitter handle, CNN Football Verified account ?@CNNFC.

“Congratulations to the latest CNN Goal of the Week winner, Kelechi Iheanacho!” it tweeted.

The Manchester City starlet according to the official twitter handle of CNN polled 65 per cent ahead of Jonathan Kodjia of the Elephants of Ivory Coast who polled 17 per cent. Jonathan’s nominated goal was his stunning overhead kick during the AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone last weekend which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Mariano Diaz of Real Madrid Castilla was third having polled 11 per cent votes.

Fernando Camilo of Botafogo came fourth having polled seven per cent of the total 206 votes cast. His stunning bicycle kick when Botafogo pipped Gremio 2-1 in the Brazilian league last weekend was one the goals voted for.

The Imo State-born forward, Iheanacho succeeds Aduana Stars of Ghana striker, Bright Adjei, who won last week’s edition and also became the first player to win back-to-back CNN Goal of the Week award.

Iheanacho, it will be recalled, last season was ranked among the top 10 emerging talents in the English Premier League last season.

Iheanacho, who also featured at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup also clinched the award of being the player who scored a goal-per-minute ratio in Europe last season at the expense of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and Karim Benzema, among others.