Manuel Pellegrini mystified by Iheanacho's capabilities

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini hailed the performance of Kelechi Iheanacho after a starring role in a comfortable Capital One Cup demolition of Crystal Palace.

The 19-year-old Nigerian striker got on the scoresheet and set up two other goals as City cruised through to the quarter-finals with a 5-1 win at the Etihad Stadium.

It was an impressive way for the youngster to mark his first start for the club and it offered City some encouragement at a time of limited attacking options with leading scorer Sergio Aguero still out injured.

Pellegrini said: "It was very important for Kelechi to demonstrate once again that he's a very good player.

"He's not just a striker - he provided two assists. I'm very happy for him. He has things to improve but he's working in the correct way."

Iheanacho played up front with Wilfried Bony, who also scored. Iheanacho teed up goals for Kevin De Bruyne and fellow teenager Manu Garcia while Yaya Toure also struck from the penalty spot.

Pellegrini said: "I think this moment it's important for the team to have Kelechi and Bony as options without Kun (Aguero).

"They can play both together as they did tonight. Bony played well tonight. Of course Kelechi was very impressive but Wilfried also knows he has all my trust and his team-mates' trust.

"Kun is impossible to replace but we know we have another option in attack."

OBAGOAL returns as Oliseh snubs Moses for Swaziland

Nigeria coach, Sunday Oliseh, has included Seattle Sounders striker, Obafemi Martins in his latest list of 23 players invited to tackle Swaziland in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Martins who clocked 31 Wednesday, has not featured for the Super Eagles since March 2013 despite his remarkable run of form in the Major League Soccer.

The former Newcastle United striker comes in for the already retired Emmanuel Emenike who quit the national team in rather controversial circumstances last week.

Conspicuously absent is West Ham winger, Victor Moses, who opted out of the friendly fixtures against the DR Congo and Cameroon in Belgium over injury concerns.

And now Oliseh has moved swiftly to axe the 24-year-old, suggesting his discontent at the player's action to ignore national call-up.

There were places for regular suspects John Obi Mikel, Ogenyi Onazi and skipper Ahmed Musa - while  youngsters Wilfred Ndidi, Dele Alampasu, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon also retained their places.

Six home-based players who helped the country qualify for the 2016 African Nations Championship in Rwanda also made the cut.

They include Sunhine Stars goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Kalu Orji of Enugu Rangers, Sharks defender, Chima Akas, Austin Oboroakpo of Abia Warriors and attackers Paul Onobi and Ezekiel Bassey of Sunshine Stars and Enyimba FC respectively.

Nigeria face a tricky away tie in the first leg in Lobamba on Friday, November 13 before hosting the Swazi's at the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt four days later.

Oliseh has directed that all players to arrive at the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on Sunday, November 8 as training commences same day by 7pm.

THE FULL LIST

 Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Dele Alampasu (Club de Sportivo Feirense, Portugal)

Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Kalu Orji (Enugu Rangers FC); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz, Germany); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors)

Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Sylvester Igbonu (FC UFA, Russia)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba FC); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders, USA).

FIFA U-17 World Cup: Golden Eaglets crush Australia to advance to quarterfinal

Reigning U-17 World Cup holders, Nigeria, smashed a tired looking Australia side 6-0 in the Round of 16 at Estadio Sausalito in Chile on Thursday morning.

A hat-trick from Victor Osimhen - his seventh of the tournament - a penalty goal from Nigeria skipper, Chidiebere Nwakali and late goals from Edidiong Essien and Samuel Chukwueze ended the Junior Socceroos run in emphatic fashion.

The Golden Eaglets out-muscled the Australians in midfield and proved devastating on the counter putting four past the Joeys in the second-half.

Tony Vidmar's men started brightly but were hit in the 22nd minute when Osimhen capitalised on a lost ball and made a surging run towards goal.

The Golden Boot candidate then rounded the opposing defender and shot across the goalkeeper to bring up Nigeria's first.

The Joeys had a great chance to equalize but Lucas Derrick's shot on target was palmed away by the Nigerian keeper and Cameron Joice couldn't put away the follow-up.

Nigeria then raced up the other end and earned a penalty which Nwakali coverted to double their lead with three minutes before the half hour mark.

Derrick spurned a chance to go for goal just after the hour and Panos Armenakas put in a decent freekick.

And despite dominating possession for portions of the second half, it was Nigeria with all the goal-mouth action.

Osimhen scored his second in the 73rd minute before bringing up his third in controversial circumstances.

The attacker clearly fouling Rowles before firing a sumblime shot into the far top corner on 79'.

A goal to substitute Essien on 86' and Chukeueze on 89' completed the rout for the Eaglets.

Iheanacho stars in City romp

Nigeria youngster Kelechi Iheanacho was voted Man of the Match as Manchester City spanked Crystal Palace 5-1 at the Etihad on Wednesday in the English Capital One Cup.

The 19-year-old scored once and made a couple in an excellent full debut as the Citizens booked a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Iheanacho teed up Kevin De Bruyne to tap in City's second late in the first half after Wilfried Bony had headed the hosts ahead after 22 minutes.

He then made it 3-0 with a composed finish - his second of the season - his first coming against same opposition in the League in September, before Yaya Toure converted from the penalty spot.

Damien Delaney grabbed a late consolation for Palace but it was City who had the final say as Iheanacho set up 17-year-old Manu Garcia to score the fifth in injury-time.