Iheanacho: Super Eagles star nears 6th career title as Celtic boost SPFL bid with Rangers win

Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho is now just two matches away from winning the sixth major title of his professional career after Celtic produced a commanding 3-1 victory over rivals Rangers in Sunday’s explosive Old Firm derby, Afrik-Foot reports.

Played in front of a packed crowd at Celtic Park, the result reignited Celtic’s Scottish Premiership title push and placed the race firmly back in their hands heading into the final week of the season.

Celtic entered the match knowing anything short of victory would likely return the advantage to league leaders Heart of Midlothian, especially after Hearts were held to a 1-1 draw by Motherwell earlier in the weekend.

Rangers stunned the home supporters in the 10th minute when teenager Mikey Moore finished off a swift attacking move to put the visitors ahead. But Celtic quickly regained control of the derby through their relentless pressing and attacking intensity.

South Korean winger Yang Hyun-jun levelled the contest in the 23rd minute after Celtic carved open the Rangers defence with a flowing move down the left flank.

The second half belonged completely to Japanese forward Daizen Maeda, whose devastating six-minute spell turned the derby firmly in Celtic’s favour.

🚨 DAIZEN MAEDA is incredible! An incredible bicycle kick goal from the Japanese player

CELTIC 3-1 RANGERSpic.twitter.com/EKBsVtt0sF

— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) May 10, 2026

Maeda fired Celtic ahead in the 53rd minute before producing the standout moment of the match four minutes later with a stunning overhead kick that flew beyond the Rangers goalkeeper and sent Celtic Park into celebration.

Three Nigerians featured in the encounter. Iheanacho was a second-half substitute, the former Sevilla man replacing Alistair Johnston in the 81st minute with the victory already secured. The former Leicester City and Manchester City forward came into the derby in excellent form after scoring important winning goals against Hibernian and Dundee in recent weeks. However, he could not add to the home side’s tally.

Meanwhile, Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez was one of the visitors’ better performers and produced a vital goal-line block in the 29th minute to deny Luke McCowan. Danish-Nigerian midfielder Tochi Chukwuani also started for Rangers but endured a difficult afternoon before being replaced in the 76th minute as Rangers chased the game.

Iheanacho edges closer to title 6

The 3-1 victory moved Celtic onto 76 points, just one behind Hearts with two league matches remaining.

The title equation is now straightforward for Iheanacho and his teammates. If Celtic beat Motherwell away on Wednesday and then defeat Hearts at Celtic Park on the final day, they will be crowned Scottish Premiership champions regardless of other results.

The decisive clash against Hearts on 16 May is already shaping up to be a winner-takes-all title showdown.

The title chase could add another major honour to an already impressive trophy collection for Iheanacho.

The Super Eagles attacker won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup with Nigeria in 2013 and collected the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player. He later lifted the League Cup with Manchester City before enjoying memorable success with Leicester City, where he won the FA Cup, Community Shield and Championship title.

The 29-year-old also holds a unique place in English football history as the highest-scoring African player in FA Cup history and is set to become one of the few Nigerian forwards to enjoy sustained success across both English and Scottish football.