Kelechi Iheanacho’s remarkable goalscoring streak came to an end on Saturday as Bursaspor secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Tosin Kehinde’s Bandırmaspor in the Turkish First League, Trybal News reports.
The Nigerian striker was unable to find the net at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matlı Stadyumu, ending a historic run in which he scored in 12 consecutive league appearances for the Turkish club.
Bursaspor, however, had little trouble securing all three points, with Halil Akbunar opening the scoring in the seventh minute before Lewis Baker struck twice in the 12th and 23rd minutes to put the hosts firmly in control.
Iheanacho Passed Fit After Injury Scare
The major talking point ahead of the encounter was Iheanacho’s availability after he picked up a knock during Bursaspor’s 4-2 victory over Ankara Keçiörengücü on October 25.
Following two days of rest, the former Celtic forward returned to full training with his teammates and was subsequently included in the matchday squad for the visit of Bandırmaspor.
Despite his return, the 30-year-old struggled to make his usual impact as Bandırmaspor’s defence kept him quiet throughout the contest.
His failure to score brought an end to an extraordinary sequence of goals that had established him as one of the most prolific forwards in Turkish football this season.
A Record-Breaking Run Comes to an End
Iheanacho made history on October 15 when he scored twice and provided an assist in Bursaspor’s 3-0 victory over Muğlaspor, becoming the first player to score in 10 consecutive matches in Turkish professional league football.
He extended the record to 11 successive league appearances with a goal in the 2-0 win over Pendikspor on October 19 before taking the run to 12 matches with another strike in the victory over Ankara Keçiörengücü.
His achievement surpassed the previous benchmark of nine consecutive scoring appearances, associated with Galatasaray legend Metin Oktay during the 1962/63 season and former Turkey international Saffet Sancaklı with Kocaelispor in 1995/96.
The Bandırmaspor fixture was the first time this season that the Nigerian failed to score in a league appearance for Bursaspor.
Iheanacho Eyes Super Eagles Return
Despite the end of his scoring streak, Iheanacho remains a player to watch ahead of Nigeria’s forthcoming international fixtures.
The 30-year-old has already featured under Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, scoring in Nigeria’s 3-3 international friendly draw against Russia.
Iheanacho opened the scoring in that encounter before being substituted at half-time, providing a reminder of the attacking quality he continues to offer the national team.
His impressive form at Bursaspor, where he has recorded 16 goals and three assists, could further strengthen his case for inclusion in Nigeria’s squad for next month’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania.
The former Celtic and Leicester City forward will be hoping to maintain his impressive club form and translate it into further opportunities with the Super Eagles as Nigeria prepare for their upcoming international assignments.
Although his historic scoring streak has finally ended, Iheanacho’s performances in Turkey have reinforced his reputation as a prolific goalscorer and given Nigeria another compelling attacking option ahead of their crucial qualifiers.
