Kelechi Iheanacho’s decision to join Turkish second-tier side Bursaspor has reignited a familiar debate in Nigerian football: are Super Eagles players taking backward steps in their careers?
Once regarded as one of Africa’s brightest attacking talents after winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Premier League title and FA Cup, Iheanacho has now swapped the glamour of England and Scotland for Turkey’s second division in a move that many supporters see as symbolic of a worrying trend. The 29-year-old signed a three-year deal with Bursaspor after leaving Celtic, despite reported interest from clubs in higher-profile leagues.
Iheanacho’s switch to Bursaspor sparks nationwide reactions because it comes barely a few weeks after he guided Celtic to the Scottish Premier League and Cup titles.
His move is only the latest in a transfer window that has left many Nigerian football fans questioning whether the country’s top players are gradually slipping down the European ladder rather than climbing it.
For years, Nigerian footballers viewed Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Portugal and sometimes Spain as stepping stones to Europe’s elite leagues.
