‘It’s a very difficult record to break’ – Bursaspor coach hails Kelechi Iheanacho’s historic scoring run

Bursaspor coach Mustafa Er has hailed Kelechi Iheanacho after the Nigerian forward made Turkish football history by scoring in 10 consecutive league matches.

The former Manchester City striker reached the milestone on October 15, opening the scoring in Bursaspor’s 3-0 victory over Muğlaspor to establish a new record for consecutive scoring appearances in Turkish league football.

Iheanacho’s remarkable run has taken him past two legendary figures in the country’s football history, Galatasaray great Metin Oktay and former Turkey international Saffet Sancaklı, who previously held the record after scoring in nine successive Süper Lig matches.

Oktay achieved the feat during the 1962–63 season with Galatasaray, while Sancaklı matched the mark with Kocaelispor in the 1995–96 campaign.

The achievement represents another significant milestone for Iheanacho, who won the Golden Ball at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and has previously featured for Manchester City, Leicester City and Sevilla.

Er praised the striker’s accomplishment, acknowledging the difficulty of maintaining such consistency while expressing his desire to see the Nigerian extend his extraordinary scoring streak.

“It’s a very difficult record to break. Our wish is for him to extend this streak even further.

“He is extremely happy, has great friendships, and is working incredibly hard,” Er said, as quoted by Bursasporx.

Mustafa Er credits team effort behind Iheanacho’s record

Despite celebrating Iheanacho’s individual achievement, Er insisted that the forward’s record-breaking run should not overshadow the contributions of his teammates.

The Bursaspor coach believes the club’s collective efforts have played a crucial role in allowing the Nigerian to flourish, warning against judging the accomplishment solely through the striker’s performances.

“To judge it solely through Iheanacho would be unfair to both the team and the club. The contributions of his teammates cannot be ignored,” he said.

Er also praised the club’s management for securing the services of a player with Premier League experience and creating an environment that has helped him thrive.

“I also congratulate our management for bringing a Premier League-quality player to the team and managing his psychology correctly.”

The coach’s comments underline the importance of the club’s support system in sustaining Iheanacho’s form, with his confidence and relationships within the squad emerging as key factors in his impressive performances.

For Bursaspor, the forward’s goalscoring exploits have provided a major boost as they continue their Turkish First League campaign.

Iheanacho targets 11th consecutive scoring game

Iheanacho will have the opportunity to extend his historic run when Bursaspor face Pendikspor on Monday evening.

The Nigerian will be aiming to score in an 11th successive league match, further distancing himself from the previous record jointly held by Oktay and Sancaklı.

His latest achievement has already placed him among the notable figures in Turkish football history, but another goal would offer further evidence of his remarkable consistency.

With Er publicly backing him to continue the streak, attention will turn to whether the former Manchester City forward can maintain his scoring touch against Pendikspor.