AFCON 2023: Rufai says Iheanacho can be Peseiro’s joker against Cameroon

Former Nigeria intrnational goalkeeper, Peter ‘Dodo Mayana’ Rufai has told the Nigerian Tribune Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho ‘could be Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro joker when Nigeria and Cameroon face each other in the 34th Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON 2023 on Saturday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Iheanacho has not featured for the Super Eagles since the competition began two weeks ago but Rufai believes the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup winner ‘could turn the table for Nigeria against the Indomitable Lions just like Emmanuel Amuneke did during their (Rufai’s) time when he (Amuneke) decided the final game of the 1994 AFCON finals against the Kalusha Bwalya-led team.’

‘I agree with you with what you just said concerning the time of Amuneke. I recall how Amuneke was having fun in the camp and how Clemens Westerhof was making jokes.

‘Amuneke was even telling us saying ‘Hey guys, go and do the job, go and get the job done. Amuneke never knew he was being prepped up for the final stage and finally when it did happen, Amuneke came in, he caused the damage and gave us the victory needed.

‘I still believe similar thing could be running in the minds of the technical department resting Iheanacho and make sure that by the time he (Iheanacho) comes in, he would be very hungry and ready to go for it. I’m still believing in that,’ Rufai was quoted as saying by Nigerian Tribune.

Iheanacho is making his second AFCON appearance after he was not listed by Gernot Rohr at the 32nd edition of the competition in Egypt.

In Cameroun two years ago, Iheanacho scored Nigeria’s first goal in the 1-0 defeat of Egypt.