BREAKING: Kelechi Iheanacho Becomes Only Second Super Eagles Star To Win League Title With Celtic

Kelechi Iheanacho has written his name into the history books after becoming only the second Nigerian international to win the Scottish Premiership with Celtic following the club’s dramatic title-clinching victory over Hearts on the final day of the season, according to Daily Post.

The Super Eagles striker was part of a tense and emotionally charged encounter at Celtic Park, where Celtic overturned a determined Hearts side with a late surge to secure a 3-1 win and claim their fifth consecutive league title. The result also ended Hearts’ long-running challenge at the top of the table after they had led the standings for much of the campaign.

Hearts arrived at Celtic Park knowing a draw would be enough to secure a historic title, and for long periods they looked set to achieve it. Lawrence Shankland gave the visitors the lead just before half-time, silencing the home crowd and putting Hearts within reach of their first league crown in decades.

Celtic responded almost immediately before the break when a VAR intervention led to a penalty decision, which Arne Engels converted to restore parity. That moment shifted the momentum of the contest and set up a second half in which Celtic pushed relentlessly for a winner.

Manager Martin O’Neill turned to Iheanacho at half-time, introducing the Nigerian striker in search of added physical presence and attacking urgency. His introduction changed the rhythm of Celtic’s forward play, with his movement and hold-up work helping to stretch the Hearts defence and create space in the final third.

As the match entered its decisive phase, Celtic continued to press, knowing that anything less than a win would hand the title to their opponents. The breakthrough eventually arrived late on when Daizen Maeda’s effort was initially ruled out for offside before a VAR review overturned the decision, sending Celtic Park into celebration.

Deep into stoppage time, Callum Osmand added a third goal to confirm the victory and secure another league title for the Glasgow side, completing a dramatic turnaround that had looked unlikely for much of the evening.

While Iheanacho did not score in the final match, his contribution throughout the season proved significant in Celtic’s title push. The Nigerian striker registered eight goals in all competitions despite limited starts, with several of his goals coming in crucial moments during the closing stages of the campaign.

He had previously delivered key contributions in tight matches, including late goals that helped Celtic maintain their momentum during a tense title race. His ability to influence games from the bench became an important asset for the team as injuries and rotation shaped the squad throughout the season.

The achievement places Iheanacho in a select group of Nigerian players to have represented Celtic, and now alongside former Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose, who also enjoyed league success during his spell in Scotland. Ambrose won multiple Scottish Premiership titles during his time at the club, setting a precedent for Nigerian success in Glasgow.

Iheanacho’s inclusion in that history adds further weight to his impact at Celtic, where he has now surpassed previous Nigerian goal tallies at the club despite playing fewer matches. His eight-goal return has established him as one of the most efficient Nigerian attackers in Celtic’s recent history.