Iheanacho happy after inspiring Celtic’s hard-fought win over Hibernian

Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho expressed his delight after coming off the bench to score the decisive goal in Celtic FC’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hibernian FC.

Iheanacho once again proved his value as an impact player, stepping up at a crucial moment to secure all three points in a tightly contested encounter.

Speaking after the game, Iheanacho could not hide his satisfaction, emphasizing his joy at contributing to the team’s success.

“I always feel great to come in and help the team to get the win, so I’m happy today. The whole team is happy, and especially the fans,” he said.

The match posed a unique challenge for Celtic, particularly after Hibernian were reduced to ten men. Despite the numerical advantage, breaking down a deep defensive setup required patience and discipline—qualities Iheanacho highlighted in his post-match remarks.

“It’s really important to stay patient, especially when you’re playing against 10 men,” he noted. “It’s really difficult because they sit back and wait for you to come, so you need patience to move them from side to side to create spaces, and, at the end, we got our reward.”

Iheanacho also provided insight into his match-winning goal, describing the composure required in a crowded penalty area.

“In the box you need to be composed but it was a difficult finish, to be fair. I wanted to head it at first but I had a second touch to chest it and then the guys started rushing out and I just had to get it on target and see what happened,” he explained.

The forward’s impact did not go unnoticed by the supporters, and he acknowledged their role in motivating the team.

“I’m happy that the fans are loving every moment of it, and I’m enjoying it,” he added.

With the victory strengthening Celtic’s position, Iheanacho stressed the importance of maintaining focus as the season approaches its decisive stage.

“We just need to focus on the rest of the games and do the job we need to do and at the end, we’ll get the trophy hopefully,” he said.

His performance once again underlines his growing importance to Celtic, particularly in high-pressure moments where composure and experience make the difference.