Fatawu Issahaku Clutches MOTM After FA Cup Winner
Substitute Abdul Fatawu Issahaku’s brilliant screamer in the 105th minute of Leicester City Football Club’s round 5 game against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday not only decided the game but earned the played the Man of the Match award.
The Black Stars player who missed the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament to satisfy conditions for his permanent stay with the East Midlands club qualified his side for the quarterfinals of the Emirates FA Cup last night.
The 19-year-old winger came on in the 64th minute in place of Mar Albrighton when the game was in deadlock with countless chances squandered.
The game advanced into extra time and seemed to be heading into penalties when the Ghanaian loanee latched on an accurate pass from Ikelechi Iheanacho outside the penalty box to slot home and break the deadlock.
The goal tally of Fatawu at Leicester hopped to four yesterday. The Tamale native is on a season-long loan from Sporting CP and anticipates a permanent stay.
Commenting on the winner in a post-match press conference, Manager Enzo Maresca said, “He (Fatawu) probably shoots 25 times (from that position) during his time at Leicester and finally he scored that one tonight. I remember many other shots in the stands from him so if we are to wait another 25 shots, it’s a bit long!
“I think we had once again many chances. We missed all of them but in the end, it’s important to create chances and to be more clinical for sure.”
