Kelechi Iheanacho becomes only second Super Eagles star to win league title with Celtic

Kelechi Iheanacho has become only the second Nigerian international to win the Scottish Premiership with Celtic after the Glasgow giants completed a dramatic title comeback with a 3-1 victory over Heart of Midlothian on the final day of the season, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Super Eagles striker featured as Celtic overturned Hearts at Celtic Park to secure their fifth consecutive Scottish league crown in one of the most dramatic title races in recent Scottish football history.

The final-day clash carried huge tension before kick-off. Hearts arrived at Celtic Park sitting top of the table after leading the Scottish Premiership standings for around 250 days, knowing a draw would be enough to end the long dominance of Celtic and Rangers in Scotland.

For long periods, it looked as though the Edinburgh club would finally complete that mission.

Lawrence Shankland stunned the home crowd in the 43rd minute when he rose highest at the back post to nod Hearts into the lead. At that stage, Hearts were on course to win their first Scottish league title since 1960.

But Celtic responded in first-half stoppage time after a controversial handball decision against Alexandros Kyziridis. Belgian midfielder Arne Engels calmly converted the resulting penalty in the 45+4th minute to level the score before the break.

Manager Martin O’Neill introduced Iheanacho at half-time as Celtic searched desperately for a winner. The Nigerian immediately added physicality and urgency to the attack, with his movement unsettling the Hearts defence throughout the second half.

Celtic snatch title away from Hearts

With the game entering its final minutes, Hearts were still holding onto the draw they needed to become champions.

Then came the moment that changed everything. Japanese forward Daizen Maeda thought he had scored in the 86th minute, only for the assistant referee to raise the offside flag. After a tense VAR review, the goal was awarded, sending Celtic Park into chaos and putting Celtic on course for another title triumph.

As Hearts pushed desperately for an equaliser deep into stoppage time, 20-year-old substitute Callum Osmand broke clear and scored into an empty net in the 98th minute to seal a 3-1 victory.

Celtic’s victory secured the club’s 56th Scottish top-flight title, moving them ahead of rivals Rangers as the most successful league club in Scotland. It also is their 14th league crown in the last 15 seasons.

The defeat was particularly crushing for Hearts and manager Derek McInnes. The club had spent most of the season at the summit and were just minutes away from breaking the long-standing Old Firm grip on Scottish football.

Instead, Celtic completed an astonishing late-season recovery after a turbulent campaign that included fan protests, managerial instability and the departure of Brendan Rodgers earlier in the season.

Martin O’Neill eventually steadied the team and guided Celtic to five straight victories in the championship round to complete the turnaround.

Iheanacho’s late-season heroics prove decisive

Although injuries restricted Iheanacho to only 22 appearances across all competitions, the Nigerian striker produced several decisive moments during the title run-in.

The former Leicester City forward scored eight goals during the campaign, with seven coming from the bench.

His most important contribution arrived days before the Hearts showdown in a dramatic match against Motherwell.

Celtic were heading towards a damaging 2-2 draw before a VAR review awarded them a stoppage-time penalty in the 98th minute. Iheanacho stepped forward under enormous pressure and converted in the 99th minute to secure a dramatic 3-2 win.

Without that goal, Celtic would have entered the final day needing a major swing in goal difference to overtake Hearts.

The Nigerian also delivered crucial late goals against Hibernian and Dundee during the tense closing weeks of the campaign.

His impact has now placed him alongside former Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose in Celtic history.

Ambrose won four consecutive Scottish league titles during his successful spell at Celtic between 2012 and 2017, making 169 appearances for the club and becoming a fan favourite for his energetic displays and trademark celebrations.

Iheanacho has now followed that path while also becoming the highest-scoring Nigerian player in Celtic history. His eight goals surpassed Ambrose’s tally of six despite playing far fewer matches.

Only three Nigerian internationals have ever represented Celtic at senior level; Efe Ambrose, Iheanacho and Rabiu Ibrahim.

Now, after a chaotic title race and a season filled with late twists, Iheanacho has written his own chapter in the club’s history by helping Celtic retain the Scottish Premiership crown