Former Super Eagles captain Kanu Nwankwo has weighed in on whether Nigeria miss Odion Ighalo and if he should make a return to the team.
Ighalo called time on his international career after the Super Eagles won Bronze at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. His retirement came as a shock to a lot of fans who believed his services are still needed in the team after he finished as the highest goalscorer in Egypt.
While many believed he still has a lot to offer, there are some who believed it gives a chance for the country to look towards the future. Former Super Eagles striker Kanu has now joined the conversation, saying he personally wants the former Watford striker to come back but stressed that his retirement also means other players will have to step up.
The former Arsenal striker said this in an interview available on Super Eagles Twitter page. Speaking on the retirement of Mikel and Ighalo, the 43-year-old said it is normal for players to retire, but others will have to step up.
On Mikel: “It will be difficult to fill his position, but all the same football is like that. We do come and go, others we carry on.
“Ighalo is somebody that we really needed, but his choice is his. If you ask me, I will ask him to come back, but that does not mean we don’t have other players who are out there doing whatever they are doing.”
“The young ones are there, we encourage them, they keep growing because they have to have the opportunity to showcase whatever they do have,” Kanu said. He added the retirement of the duo will not affect the team because the country is made of talents.
Speaking on the highly anticipated friendly game against Brazil, Kanu charged the team not to take the game like a friendly because the fans will not like it if they lose.
