Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho has expressed his excitement after coming off the bench to score the decisive goal that lifted Celtic to the top of the Scottish Premiership table. The Nigerian striker was once again the hero as his late strike sealed a 2 1 comeback win away to Hibernian at Easter Road.
Celtic went ahead in the first half through Daizen Maeda, but Hibs captain Joe Newell levelled the game before the break despite the hosts being reduced to 10 men following Jamie McGrath’s red card. The visitors then piled on the pressure in the second period, creating chances but struggling to find a breakthrough until Iheanacho stepped up.
Introduced as a second half substitute, Iheanacho made his impact in the 72nd minute when he calmly finished inside the box after Celtic forced another opening against the tiring Hibs defence. The goal, which came amid VAR checks and high tension, ensured Celtic took all three points and moved level on points at the summit, ahead on goal difference.
Speaking after the match, Iheanacho said he was delighted to help the team at such an important moment in the title race. He praised his teammates for their character and thanked the manager for trusting him to change the game from the bench, describing the atmosphere and the winning goal as special.
The strike continues a fine run of form for the Nigerian, who has been involved in several key goals for Celtic in recent weeks. Club reports and local media have tagged him the team’s “super sub” after a series of decisive contributions when introduced in the second half of tight games.
Celtic’s victory over Hibs keeps them firmly in the race for the Scottish Premiership title and piles pressure on league leaders Hearts. With just a few rounds of fixtures remaining, Iheanacho’s form and his ability to deliver in crucial moments could prove vital to the club’s bid to reclaim the championship.
For Iheanacho, the performance is also a boost to his chances of securing a regular starting role at Celtic and strengthening his case for more minutes with the Super Eagles ahead of upcoming international fixtures.
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