Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho faced criticism for his lackluster performance against South Africa in Friday’s FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

Deployed on the right side of the attack, Iheanacho struggled to make a significant impact and was subsequently substituted in the second half. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Head Coach, Finidi George the proceeded to defend the Forward, attributing his performance to an off day rather than a tactical issue.

“Kelechi has played that position many times and performed well, so it’s not about tactics or the system,” Finidi explained.

“I think he didn’t come to the party as quickly as others, which limited his impact.

“Players can have bad days; it doesn’t mean the system or formation is flawed. He’ll bounce back, so I’m not worried.”