Kelechi Iheanacho kept his remarkable goalscoring season going on Friday evening, finding the net once again as Bursaspor drew 1-1 away at Antalyaspor in the TFF 1. Lig.
The Nigerian striker opened the scoring in the 26th minute, calmly putting the visitors ahead in a lively first half in Antalya. It was the sort of finish Bursaspor supporters have come to expect from him this season — sharp, confident and taken at exactly the right moment.
Antalyaspor hit back before the break, though, when Tural Bayramov turned the ball into his own net to level the scores. Neither side could find a winner after half-time, and the points were shared in a contest that Bursaspor will feel they could have won after taking the lead.
Kelechi Iheanacho: A record run that keeps on giving
Friday’s goal took Iheanacho to 17 league goals in only 14 appearances this season — a return that puts him firmly among the most in-form strikers in Turkish football. It also came just a week after his extraordinary run of scoring in 12 consecutive league games, a Turkish football record, finally came to an end against Bandırmaspor last weekend.
Rather than letting that run ending slow him down, the 30-year-old responded in the best way possible: by scoring again in his very next match. That is the mark of a striker playing with total belief in front of goal.
Iheanacho joined Bursaspor on a free transfer from Celtic in the summer of 2026, and the move has worked out brilliantly for both player and club. He has become the focal point of their attack, and Bursaspor remain top of the TFF 1. Lig table after this draw on the road.
Why Eric Chelle will be watching closely
The timing of Iheanacho’s form could hardly be better for Nigeria. With Victor Osimhen set for knee surgery and expected to miss the Super Eagles’ AFCON 2027 qualifying double-header against Tanzania, head coach Eric Chelle needs a striker he can trust to lead the line in Uyo on Friday, 13 November and in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, 17 November.
On current form, Kelechi Iheanacho is making that decision very easy. He is scoring in almost every game he plays, he is full of confidence, and he has the experience of delivering for Nigeria on the biggest stages. Chelle will not want to look far beyond a forward in this kind of touch.
What next for Bursaspor and Iheanacho?
Bursaspor will take plenty of encouragement from another away point, even if the win slipped away after Bayramov’s own goal. Staying top of the table is what matters at this stage of the season, and having a striker who scores in almost every match gives them a huge advantage over their promotion rivals.
For Kelechi Iheanacho, the challenge now is simple: keep scoring. If he maintains anything close to this pace, 20 league goals will arrive quickly, and a recall to lead Nigeria’s attack in the Tanzania qualifiers will be hard to argue against.
Want more on the weekend’s football? Check our today’s predictions for the latest tips, and read about Kelechi Iheanacho’s net worth — the story behind one of Nigeria’s most talked-about strikers.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA) — collage by SportsBuddy
