Only few hours before their clash with Brazil at the U20 World Cup, Nigeria striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, said to FIFA TV that he is aiming to be crowned the best footballer in the world.
“I hope to continue to make progress in my career and one day be the best player in the world. I hope God will help me to achieve this. That’s my dream.” he said.
Iheanacho scored six goals as Nigeria won a record fourth U17 World Cup title two years ago before joining Manchester City‘s youth team where he is expected to take part of the first team squad next season.
He declared: “I hope to continue to make progress in my career and one day be the best player in the world. I hope God will help me to achieve this. That’s my dream.”
Iheanacho scored six goals as Nigeria won a record fourth U-17 World Cup title in superb style two years and he said he wishes to surpass this with the U-20s.
“I am 100 per cent ready to make an impact at this World Cup, even more than at the U-17 World Cup,” he vowed.
“We want to win something for Nigeria as a team, and I hope I can do good things for the team.”
He added: “Most of the players were not available when we won the U-17 World Cup two years ago, but they are now with us and we are a lot stronger than in 2013. We will go far in this tournament.
“There is a lot to say about this team because we have a lot of potentials. We are individually talented. We have to show our strength as a team, we have to show confidence, individual talent, what the coaches have taught us and everything that will give us the edge against all the countries who have qualified for this World Cup.
“We have to fight to win this tournament by God’s grace.”
He further said the U-20 World Cup will be great opportunity to prove his worth at Manchester City, where he is yet to make his first-team debut.
“This is a perfect opportunity to show Manchester City what I am capable of especially because I was injured for a couple of months. I will work hard to make my club and my country proud at this World Cup.”