Kelechi Iheanacho has made it clear that representing Nigeria remains one of the biggest joys of his football career, insisting that his return to the Super Eagles has nothing to do with persuasion, pressure or personal interest.
For the experienced striker, the motivation is much simpler: his love for football and his deep connection with the country he has represented since his teenage years.
Iheanacho is back with the Super Eagles after more than 16 months away from the national team. His last appearance came in Nigeria’s 2025 Unity Cup final against Jamaica on May 31, 2025, before he was eventually recalled for Tuesday’s international friendly against Russia.
The return comes at an interesting point in his career.
After leaving Scottish champions Celtic during the summer, Iheanacho joined Turkish second-tier side Bursaspor as a free agent. Rather than struggling to adapt to a new environment, the 29-year-old has responded with one of the most productive starts of his recent career.
He has scored 11 goals and provided two assists in nine appearances for Bursaspor this season, form that has made his recall difficult to ignore.
Yet while his club form may have opened the door back into the national team, Iheanacho says his desire to play for Nigeria never disappeared.
The former Manchester City academy graduate explained that his journey with the national team began long before he became a senior international, having represented Nigeria at several youth levels before eventually reaching the Super Eagles.
He said the national team remains a dream for every Nigerian footballer and that he does not need anyone to convince him to answer the call.
Iheanacho’s commitment was perhaps best illustrated by his willingness to play regardless of the level at which he is asked to represent the country.
He made it clear that even if Nigeria were playing a five-a-side match or he received an invitation to return to one of the junior national teams, his passion for representing the country would remain unchanged.
That attitude adds another dimension to his comeback.
For a player who has spent much of his career under intense scrutiny, particularly after experiencing difficult periods at club level, returning to the Super Eagles could easily have become a matter of proving critics wrong.
Iheanacho, however, appears to view it differently.
For him, putting on the Nigerian shirt remains an honour in itself.
His return has also been made possible by a remarkable revival in Turkey.
There were questions when the forward left Celtic, particularly because he had just been part of a team that enjoyed domestic success in Scotland. His decision to move to the Turkish second tier surprised some observers, but his performances at Bursaspor have quickly provided an answer.
Iheanacho has also rejected the perception that the Turkish second division is an easy competition.
He has described the league as competitive and insisted that people who have not experienced it should not assume that scoring goals there is straightforward.
That confidence will now be tested on the international stage.
Nigeria’s friendly against Russia presents Iheanacho with an opportunity to demonstrate that his impressive club form can translate into the Super Eagles setup.
The timing is particularly significant for coach Eric Chelle, whose squad has recently been affected by injuries, withdrawals and the absence of several established players. Iheanacho’s experience and current goalscoring form could provide another option in an attack that has needed greater consistency.
The friendly is also taking place after a difficult period for Nigeria.
The Super Eagles defeated Madagascar 2-1 before suffering a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The Russia encounter therefore offers the team an opportunity to regain confidence and provide a positive response.
For Iheanacho, however, the occasion is personal as much as it is competitive.
After more than a year away, he is back in the environment he has known since childhood, surrounded by teammates and wearing the colours he has repeatedly described as special.
His message is clear: whether he is scoring goals in Turkey or waiting for another international opportunity, the desire to represent Nigeria has not changed.
Now, he has the chance to turn those words into action.
If Iheanacho can reproduce even a portion of the form that has brought him 11 goals for Bursaspor this season, his return could become much more than a nostalgic comeback.
It could mark the beginning of another important chapter in his Super Eagles career.
