World Cup dims for Iheanacho

Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi, has declared that the chance of under-17 star, Kelechi Iheanacho making the 2014 Fifa World Cup squad to Brazil looks remote at the moment. Keshi explained that winning the Fifa Under-17 World Cup and being named most valuable player of same tournament is not enough to win the Taye Academy attacking midfielder a place to the Mundial next year.

The Super Eagles manager added that "it should be recognised that the Under-17 tournament is a developmental phase for Kelechi and other players in that team."
The former Mali and Togo coach also made it clear that the 17-year-old needs to play top flight football regularly to further hone his skills and prepare him for the rigours of international football at senior level.
"He is a fantastic player and he has very good qualities to become one of the best footballers in the world from his performance at the Under-17 World Cup. But we need to ask if he is ready to play at the very highest level of football right now considering the weight of expectation that might follow such. It should be recognised that the Under-17 tournament is a developmental phase for. Kelechi and other players in that team.
"What he needs now is to start playing regularly for a team so that he remains in top shape as a footballer and continue to develop into top class footballer. As for considering him for the World Cup camp, that doesn't look real right now," Keshi told supersport.com.
When prodded further if Iheanacho could be handed a chance to at least train with the African champions in the future for the sake of exposure, Keshi said the option is open not to just the teenage player but to other excelling Nigerian footballers.
"I'll tell you something. Every Nigerian footballer right now has a chance to train with the squad, but provided you're doing well out there and consistently too, and at the same time we can monitor your progress at your club. So it is not just about one player or two. If he (Iheanacho) gets a team and starts playing as regularly as possible then he might just have a chance. But like I said every Nigerian footballer has a chance to be part of the squad if they can prove themselves and they also come up with qualities that we are looking for," Keshi said to supersport.com.
Iheanacho was the pick of the pack at the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the UAE after he scored six goals and provided seven assists to help Nigeria's Golden Eaglets finish as champions.
There have been calls from different quarters in Nigeria for the youngster to be handed a call-up to the Super Eagles.