Iheanacho scores historic hat-trick as Leicester thrash Sheffield United

KELECHI Iheanacho prepared for Nigeria’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with the first hat-trick of his Premier League career on Sunday 

The Leicester City forward is in the Super Eagles squad for the AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho at the end of March.

He scored thrice at the King Power Stadium as Leicester City pummeled Sheffield United 5-0 to go back to second place in the Premier League table.

Iheanacho got the first of his historic treble in the 39th minute, tapping home from strike partner Jamie Vardy’s low cross.

Ayoze Perez made it 2-0 in the 64th minute after being set up by Marc Albrighton.

Former Manchester City star Iheanacho made it 3-0 five minutes later, firing into the net from another Vardy assist.

Fittingly, the goal that made history for Iheanacho was set up by his friend and compatriot Wilfred Ndidi. The Super Eagles midfielder made the assist as Iheanacho completed his hat-trick in the 78th minute.

Ethan Ampadu’s own goal in the 80th minute rounded off the scoring and marked interim Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom’s first game with the club’s heaviest defeat in years.

Indeed, in all of their 227 games under Chris Wilder who left the club last week, Sheffield United conceded five goals in a single match only once.

The win took Leicester City past Manchester United to second with 56 points from 29 matches.

United face West Ham later on Sunday night.