Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho continued his impressive late-season revival on Saturday after scoring in Celtic’s 3-1 victory over Dunfermline Athletic to seal the Scottish Cup and complete a domestic double for the Scottish giants.
The Nigerian striker found the net in the second half at Hampden Park as Celtic capped a dramatic campaign by adding the Scottish Cup to the league title they secured just a week earlier.
Daizen Maeda opened scoring for Celtic in the 19th minute before Arne Engels doubled the advantage with a long-range strike before halftime.
READ ALSO
Dunfermline improved after the break and briefly threatened a comeback, but Iheanacho delivered the decisive blow in the 72nd minute after latching onto a through ball from Benjamin Nygren. The former Leicester City striker dribbled past defenders and calmly slotted home to put the result beyond doubt.
Josh Cooper later grabbed a consolation goal for Dunfermline, but Celtic comfortably saw out the game to secure their 43rd Scottish Cup title.
The victory also completed Celtic’s 14th domestic league-and-cup double and extended the club’s strong finish to the season under interim manager Martin O’Neill.
O’Neill, who returned to steady the club during a turbulent period, has now guided Celtic to nine major trophies across two spells with the Glasgow side. Questions still remain over whether the 74-year-old will stay beyond the current campaign.
For Iheanacho, Saturday’s goal represented another important moment in what has been a remarkable turnaround in Scotland.
The Nigerian international joined Celtic on a short-term deal after leaving Spanish side Sevilla, but struggled early in the season due to injuries and inconsistent playing time. At one stage, speculation surrounded his future at the club, with reports suggesting Celtic were unlikely to extend his stay.
However, the 28-year-old rediscovered form during the decisive weeks of the campaign and became one of Celtic’s most influential attacking players.
He scored crucial goals during the title run-in, including a late winner against Dundee that reignited Celtic’s momentum in the Scottish Premiership race.
Iheanacho also played a major role in Celtic’s journey to the Scottish Cup final after netting twice in the semi-final victory over St Mirren.
Saturday’s triumph means the Nigerian forward has now won six major trophies in his senior club career, adding the Scottish Cup to previous honours including the English FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield and EFL Championship title.
Celtic’s latest domestic success came just days after they edged Hearts to the Scottish Premiership crown in dramatic fashion on the final day of the season.
The club had trailed in the title race for months before a late resurgence helped them finish two points clear at the top of the table.
Speaking after the match, Celtic supporters praised Iheanacho’s resurgence on social media, with many calling for the club to offer the striker a contract extension following his strong finish to the season.
Attention is now expected to shift toward transfer discussions and Celtic’s plans ahead of next season, with the Nigerian’s future likely to become one of the club’s biggest talking points in the coming weeks.
