Kelechi Iheanacho is showing great form in the build-up to next month’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.
The Nigerian star was in action for Leicester City on Sunday and he made his presence count; scoring a goal and bagging two assists in the thrilling Boxing Day fixture at the Etihad against Manchester City which ended 6-3 in favour of the hosts.
It was Iheanacho’s second goal in 13 Premier League appearances for Leicester this season. The last time he scored for Leicester was on October 3rd, 2021, in a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.
Also, he has taken his assist in the English top-flight this campaign to three.
Iheanacho’s Nigerian teammate Ademola Lookman was on target for the Foxes while Wilfred Ndidi was benched.
City, on 47 points, now extend their lead over Liverpool to six points in the league standing.
For Leicester, they have lost three of their last five Premier League games (one win, one draw) and are in 10th position on 22 points.
Man City hit the ground running with a smart goal just five minutes after kickoff as Kevin De Bruyne controlled from Fernandinho’s pass and rifled in a low left-foot finish.
In the 14 minute City doubled their lead after Riyad Mahrez scored from the spot following a foul on Aymeric Laporte.
City continued to press for more goals and were rewarded in the 21st minute as they went 3-0. Ilkay Gundogan tapped in the loose ball after Kasper Schmeichel parried Joao Cancelo’s low cross.
Things went from bad to worse for Leicester as Raheem Sterling made it 4-0 on 25 minutes from the spot after he was fouled inside the box.
Leicester pulled a goal back on 55 minutes. A beautiful touch from Maddison on the halfway line, passed to Iheanacho who delayed well to play it back to him, and he slotted home easily.
In the 59th minute, Leicester got a second goal to make it 4-2 after Iheanacho played in Lookman to slot home.
Iheanacho then made it 4-3 on 66 minutes, tapping home after Maddison’s long-range shot bounced off the crossbar into the path of the Nigerian.
The goals kept coming this time to City thanks to Aymeric Laporte in the 69 minute after the Spaniard rose to send a looping header into the top corner bringing the score to 5-3.
And with three minutes left, City snuffed out any hope of a comeback as Sterling tapped in from a Ruben Dias downward header to end the game 6-3.
And in other Boxing Day fixture, Arsenal thrashed Norwich City 5-0 at Carrow Road, Tottenham Hotspur overcame 10-man Crystal Palace 3-0 while Southampton beat West Ham 3-2 away.
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