On Friday Kelechi Iheanacho was named Premier League Player of the Month for March following his impressive performance for Leicester City.
It was an award that did not come as a surprise as Ịheanachọ scored five goals from only 11 shots in the Premier League in March, two more than any other player.
This recent achievement means Iheanacho now becomes the fourth Nigerian to win the Player of the Month award.
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In this piece, JAMES AGBEREBI of Completesports.com takes a look at the three other Nigerian stars who have won the award.
AUSTIN OKOCHA
Okocha was the first ever Nigerian to be voted Premier League Player of the Month during his time at Bolton Wanderers.
The now 47-year-old was named the best player for the month of November 2003, for his breathtaking displays for Bolton.
OSAZE ODEMWINGIE
It took seven years before another Nigerian was won the award which was Osaze Odemwingie at West Bromwich Albion.
Till date, Odemwingie remains the most successful Nigerian to win the Premier League Player of the Month award after clinching it three times.
Odemwingie first picked the award in September 2010, claimed it again in April 2011 and also February 2012 for the third time.
West Bromwich Albion’s Peter Odemwingie receives the Barclays Premier League player of the month award
Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Alex Morton
Livepic
ODION IGHALO
And the third Nigerian to pick up the award before did was former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo at Watford.
Ighalo who had helped Watford gain promotion to the Premier League, got the award in December 2015.
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6 Comments
I’m surprised Kanu never won this award. That hattrick at Chelsea should have won him the award, even if he played no other football that month. #Kanu believe it.
A great match display can earn you, Man of the Match, but Player of the Month is won after great displays in about 4 or more matches in the course of a month. And that display must then over shadow other nominees. So Kanu’s hattrick alone cannot win Player of the Month. So other displays of that month and other players performance can affect a player. But that does not remove anything from Kanu Nwankwo’s legendary status among Africa best footballers.
Congrats Kelechi, More of this will come, I believe
What about the yak, yakubu aiyegbeni, im really surprised he isnt on this list with all the goals he scored for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, everton etc. He is the highest Nigerian goal scorer and hat trick getter in premiership history. Surprised he isnt among the list. But men osaze was a real star player back then, with all the lower teams he played for he still won three player of the month awards. Good show!
Nwankwo Ksnu did win Player of the Month! But I’m not 100% sure
He didn’t
Senior man don de go ooh