The Nigerian forward, Kelechi Iheanacho played a crucial role as Leicester City won the English FA Cup and finished fifth in the Premier League in 2020-2021.
The rebirth of Kelechi Iheanacho in 2021 was one of the stories of last season’s Premier League. From a peripheral role at the club, Iheanacho transformed to become Leicester City’s key man in the second half of the season, scoring crucial goals along the way.
He finished as Leicester City’s top scorer in all competitions with 19 goals and a further 7 assists from 25 starts in 39 total appearances. 16 of those goals were scored in 2021.
The 24-years old netted 12 times in the Premier League. Remarkably, his first league goal of the season came in February. He averaged a goal every 121 minutes. Only Gareth Bale had a better minutes-per-goal ratio.
In what is his most prolific season yet, Iheanacho won the Premier League Player of the Month and Goal of the Month Award for March, and he became the first player to score in all days of the week in the same league season.
The Nigerian international also starred during the Foxes run to a historic FA Cup triumph. His 94th-minute winner against Brighton saw Leicester advanced to the quarter-finals where he scored twice in the 3-1 defeat of Manchester United at the King Power Stadium.
Iheanacho was at it again in the semi-final against Southampton, showing remarkable positional sense to score the game’s only goal.
He became the highest scoring African ever in the competition’s history with 13 goals, surpassing Didier Drogba’s tally of 12.
Iheanacho is certainly not the frontrunner for the African Footballer of The Year Award but he should be in the conversation nonetheless.
Sadio Mane who won the last edition was below his usual best as Liverpool struggled in their title defense and ended the season trophyless.
Two-time winner, Mo Salah had an impressive individual season scoring 31 goals in all competitions. But the Reds poor campaign will count against him as team success is crucial to individual honors.
Chelsea’s Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy deserves a shout too for his exceptional first season in England which ended with him winning the Champions League – the first African goalkeeper to win the trophy. He kept 25 clean sheets all season (9 in 13 Champions League games, 16 in 31 league games).
Riyad Mahrez is perhaps, the favorite to win the award at this point. The Algerian star was brilliant as Manchester City romped to a league and cup double and reached the Champions League final for the first time.
But going by stats, the 30-years old’s numbers aren’t so staggering – 14 goals and 9 assists in 48 games in all competitions. Numbers that are less when compared to his contemporaries. Although I accede that stats doesn’t always tell the whole story.
This, in my opinion, leaves the race for the CAF Player Of The Year award still open with the year still only half the distance.
A lot can happen in the remaining six months of the year and the start of next season will go some length in deciding who will be crowned Africa’s finest of 2021.
Kelechi Iheanachoed has played himself into the conversation. A strong showing in the first half of next season will all but guarantee him a place on the podium.
