Nigeria officials were left puzzled by Kelechi Iheanacho’s unexpected absence from the mandatory pre-match press conference ahead of the Super Eagles’ semifinal showdown with South Africa in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
According to the notification from the Confederation of African Football, Iheanacho was selected to accompany head coach Jose Peseiro for the press briefing. Instead, Ola Aina showed up, indicating that the Nottingham Forest wing-back would likely play a role in the upcoming match.
Despite being included in the matchday squads, Iheanacho has been confined to the bench in all previous games, sparking speculation about his relationship with the Portuguese coach. When questioned about Iheanacho’s absence, Aina lightened the mood by jokingly asking, “Am I not good enough? I’m just double-checking.”
The Super Eagles Media Officer later clarified that Iheanacho was replaced by Aina at the press conference. Peseiro did not give a clear answer about Iheanacho’s absence but praised Aina’s performance, hinting that he may feature in the starting lineup.
Before the tournament, Iheanacho had been a key player for Nigeria with multiple goal involvements in recent matches, making his absence from the press conference even more bewildering.
