Leicester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho has broken former Nigeria international, Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s goal record in the FA Cup.
Iheanacho scored twice in Leicester City’s 5-1 thrashing of Peterborough on Saturday.
In doing so, the 21-year-old broke a record previously held by Aiyegbeni, as he took his tally in the prestigious competition to 9 goals in 9 appearances.
Aiyegbeni notched 8 goals in 20 appearances in the FA Cup wearing the jerseys of Reading, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth.
While it took the retired Nigeria international ten years to score eight goals in the FA Cup, Iheanacho became Nigeria’s leading scorer in the FA Cup after only two years.
Below are Nigeria’s top ten scorers in the FA Cup:
- Kelechi Iheanacho – 9 goals, 9 matches
- Yakubu Aiyegbeni – 8 goals, 20 matches
- Victor Moses – 6 goals, 29 matches
- Nwankwo Kanu – 6 goals, 24 matches
- Victor Anichebe – 4 goals, 21 matches
- Danny Shittu- 4 goals, 12 matches
- Emmanuel Emenike – 4 goals, 6 matches
- Kayode Odejayi – 3 goals, 26 matches
- Obi Mikel – 3 goals, 32 matches
- Victor Obinna, 3 goals, 3 matches
Meanwhile, relegation-threatened Newcastle are reportedly considering a move to persuade rejuvenated Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho to dump their Premier League rivals for St. James’ Park in the January transfer window.
Newcastle, who crashed out of the FA Cup following their 3-0 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, are on the market for a proven striker before the January transfer window closes on Wednesday night. They are one point above the drop zone and are in danger of a second relegation in three years.
According to reports, they have had two bids rejected for Feyenoord’s Danish striker Nicolai Jorgensen, but the Dutch giants have demanded £20m to part with their prized asset.
With Feyenoord playing hardball over the 27-year-old Denmark forward, under-pressure Magpies manager Rafael Benitez has reportedly shifted his attention to Iheanacho as his plan B in case he fails to land Jorgensen.
Super Eagles forward Iheanacho, who has started just two Premier League games for the Foxes since joining from Man City last summer, hit the back of the net twice in Leicester’s 5-1 defeat of Peterborough in their FA Cup fixture against Peterborough at the ABAX Stadium on Saturday to take his tally to four in the competition this season.
The Mirror claimed on Sunday that Newcastle had renewed their interest in Iheanacho, who shunned them to join Leicester in a £25m deal in August.