Super Eagles Player Tells Fellow African Stars What to Do at Forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations

• Kelechi Iheanacho is set for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament as Nigeria kick-off their campaign against Egypt on January 11
• The Leicester City forward has urged other African superstars to show that Africa deserves more and that there are opportunities
• It is believed that AFCON tournament is not well respected in Europe and now Iheanacho has urged his fellow superstars to show class

Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho has urged fellow AFCON-bound stars to show class at the continental showpiece which starts on January 9, Complete Sports reports.

The Super Eagles star has been included in Nigeria’s squad for the biennial competition and the build up to the tournament is already heating up.

Controversy is brewing across several European clubs as a number of their stars will head to Cameroon, as they will lose key players in the middle of the domestic season.

While several clubs have released players who are eligible to go and represent their respective countries, others have threatened not to release their stars.

Super Eagles handler Augustine Eguavoen reveals what Nigeria will do to out of form player

Football

Many believe the AFCON tournament is not well respected in Europe and now Iheanacho has urged his fellow superstars to show that Africa deserves more.

He told talkSPORT:

“We need to keep doing what we’re doing and do our best and keep showing the world that Africa deserves more and there are more opportunities for good footballers over there.

“Our competition needs to be looked at as well but I think we need to prove with our play that our competition is underrated by doing extraordinary things on the pitch, by scoring goals, by performing really well so when we do that it will speak for itself.”

Ex-Ghanian international calls for respect for AFCON

Meanwhile, former German-born Ghana Black Stars midfielder, Anthony Baffoe has said the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) was to Africans what the FIFA world cup is to the world.

The 56-year-old noted that as a participant of the African football biggest international competition himself, it was an honor and a great pleasure playing in two editions of the tournament.

Super Eagles interim coach Augustine Eguavoen sends strong warning to Egypt and AFCON Group D opponents

Football

The former Fortuna Düsseldorf midfielder joined the recent trend of football figure around the world calling for more respect of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) bi-annual competition.

Eto’o says AFCON will prove Africa’s greatness

Sports Brief earlier reported that Samuel Eto'o, newly elected President of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT), has said January's AFCON will prove "greatness of African players".

The FA president of the host nation noted that the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) was more than just a football tournament to the people of Africa.

The former Cameroonian men's national team captain spoke in reaction to retired English footballer, Ian Wright's comments that the media's coverage of AFCON was tinged with racism.