The Nigerian national team is currently blessed with a wide array of striking options, but the German tactician remains keen on Odion Ighalo’s return, and he showed why on Thursday evening
Retired Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo was among the goalscorers as Al Shabab thumped Al Tai 3-0 at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, in a Saudi Arabia Pro League game week ten clash.
Ighalo’s strike off an Eva Banega assist in the 23rd minute was sandwiched by Brazilian Carlos’ 3rd-minute opener and Hussain Al Monassar’s 63rd-minute effort, as second-place Al Shabab moved to within two points of league leaders Al Ittihad.
Ighalo’s goal was his fourth in his last three games and ninth in ten league matches for the Péricles Chamusca-led side.
Ighalo’s latest effort arrives just hours after Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr confirmed he would include the former Manchester United loanee in his squad list for the World Cup qualifiers in November.
It would be recalled that Ighalo retired from the national team immediately after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The ex-Watford ace’s five goals helped the Super Eagles win the tournament’s bronze medal.
Since his retirement, Victor Osimhen has stepped into the number nine role admirably, with the Napoli striker netting ten goals and six assists in two years.
However, Rohr insists Ighalo’s experience and quality are still valuable to the team and the 32-year-old’s form continues to show that the German gaffer may be right.
Ighalo found the back of the net three times in three games in September to win the Saudi Arabian league’s best player of the month award. He now has four goals in four matches in October, breaching the defences of every team he faced, bar Al Feiha.
My respect for Victor Moses grew in leaps and bound because he told the coach ..
I have worthy successors you don’t need me in that team I have done my part
These are the kind of posts that makes me wonder if people are paid ..to hype players?
No insults or offence intended
A player that will at this point in time can’t make the first team of any elite club or league in Europe – should not be looked upon to redeem our fortunes in the pitch
No coach will pick an Ighalo that is very slow..over an athletic and fast unplayable attacker like Osimenh and co
The so called Manchester United star..
Did not even make the cut as a first team player …
Let’s stop this ….There are genuine quality out there and it’s time we sound a note of warning to our coach/team manager that he either progress our team instead of stagnating it
That is your opinion. Roger Milla made an impact for Cameroon at the age of 38 years old. Never run down a path you have never taken.
Lol! You see when a coach needs a player in a team. The coach knows his reason(s). I just don’t understand why can’t that player be given a chance. This is a player that was the highest goal scorer in last AFCON and the highest or second highest goal scorer in Chinese league. I hope my recollections is right on his goal scoring account in Chinese league. Now in Saudi Arabia he scores goals. Doing well. Are all these by accident? We all know sometimes the racism players from African decent face. Not treated and encourage the same way like players from Europe and South America. I am not saying that’s the case all the time. But It’s a reality on the ground. Please let the coach do his job in our team. UP SUPER EAGLES!!!