There appears to be a lull in the career of Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho, as the early promise he showed at the start of his stint with Scottish giants Celtic seems to have faded.
The 29-year-old joined Celtic in September 2025 on a one-year contract, with the club holding an option to extend the deal for another season. Before the move, Iheanacho and Sevilla mutually agreed to terminate his contract, allowing him to sign for the Scottish champions just 24 hours later.
He made a bright start to life in Glasgow, scoring on his European debut in a 1–1 draw against Red Star Belgrade. Iheanacho also impressed early in the Scottish Premiership, netting twice in his first five matches against Kilmarnock and Motherwell.. He added another goal in the Scottish League Cup against Patrick Thistle.
However, that early momentum has since stalled. The forward has found it difficult to secure regular minutes and has played just six minutes across his last 12 matches. His most recent appearance came on February 1, 2026, in a 2–0 win over Falkirk, where he was introduced late in the game.
Before that outing, Iheanacho had missed eight consecutive matchday squads, and in Celtic’s last three matches, he has not been involved at all, even on the bench. This has raised questions among fans and observers about his sudden drop in playing time.
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What could be wrong?
Absolutely nothing, according to sources close to the player. Iheanacho has continued to work hard in training in a bid to regain his place in the squad. The club has not listed him as injured, leaving uncertainty around his situation.
His arrival was greeted with excitement and high expectations, but that early optimism has gradually faded.
Speaking exclusively to Footy-Africa, former Nigeria U-23 international Edward Weng believes the striker must put in extra work to return to the starting lineup.
“He started well with the club and there were high hopes he would rediscover his form after his time at Sevilla was not successful,” Weng, who is now a coach at Nigeria Premier Football League side, Plateau United, said.
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“Unfortunately, he has not been able to sustain the momentum, and I am not sure why. I heard his physical conditioning may not be at the required level at the moment, which could explain why he is not in the team. I asked if he was injured, but the feedback I got was negative. I doubt it is about his ability because he still has the quality. Maybe the reports about his conditioning are true.”
What next for Iheanacho?
It is becoming increasingly apparent that Celtic may not activate the option to extend his contract when it expires at the end of the season. The statistics do not favour the Nigerian, who has made only 13 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals.
Former Super Eagles forward Mohammed Gambo is not optimistic about the chances of an extension unless there is a significant turnaround.
“With the statistics and the number of matches he has missed, it will be very difficult for the club to extend his contract,” he said. “I understand there is an option to extend for another year, but I doubt it will happen unless something changes before the end of the season.”
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“However, football can be unpredictable. Iheanacho is a talented player, and I hope he can turn things around. He has struggled to settle since leaving Leicester City. I hope things improve for him, but at the moment, it looks unlikely he will stay. Another transfer could be on the horizon,” Gambo added.
For now, the coming months will be crucial for Iheanacho as he seeks to revive his career and prove he still has much to offer at the highest level.
