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Ighalo finally breaks silence on Super Eagles return

Joba Ogunwale by Joba Ogunwale
1 year ago
in News, NewsNow, Nigeria
30
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The 32-year-old is in line for a shock return to the national team more than two years after he decided to end his international career 

Al-Shabab striker Odion Ighalo has confirmed that Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick have contacted him over a potential return to the national team.

The former Manchester United man retired from international duty after Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he finished as the top scorer with five goals.

However, almost three years after his retirement, Rohr revealed Ighalo is set for a return after naming him in his provisional squad for next month’s 2022 World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde and Liberia.

Pinnick also revealed he has been in contact with the ex-Watford striker over a potential return. Ighalo has now confirmed that talks did happen, but he has not decided on whether to return or not.

“They have been in contact with me about the possibility of coming back, Amaju and coach,” Ighalo told ESPN. “I don’t know. I have not said yes or no. I haven’t made any decision concerning the national team.”

Meanwhile, the 32-year-old showed why Rohr wants him back in the squad after he scored in Al-Shabab’s 3-0 win against Al Tai on Thursday night. 

Before his retirement, Ighalo made 35 appearances for the Super Eagles, scoring 16 goals.

Tags: Gernot RohrOdion Ighalo
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Joba Ogunwale

Joba Ogunwale

Oluwajoba Ogunwale has many years of experience as a sports content writer. The most recent of these was at Opera News, after which he took up the role of Editor-in-Chief at Soccernet.

Comments 30

  1. Rasak says:
    1 year ago

    Jude Igalo is a fantastic player,but Igalo is too skill full to be a striker.If he did makes a return to the Super Eagles,the coach should consider using him as a supporting striker not top nine.

    Reply
  2. PROF. FELIX EHIMARE ENEGHO says:
    1 year ago

    Odion Ighalo can still play an active role within the Super Eagles. He scored 5 goals and was the highest goal scorer at the last AFCON where we had great players like Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and others. He should be convinced to return, after all, Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are still playing for their national teams. He should not only be brought back to the national team but should be given the Captain’s armband. Two or three more years in the Super Eagles is not too much sacrifice for Odion. Obulu (Thank you) for representing us well.

    Reply
  3. Aso says:
    1 year ago

    I am not sure we understand the implications of this and every one in support of Ighalo’s return are not in tune with football

    His selfishness caused us from progressing to the second round in the last world cup when all he could have done was to pass the ball to a better positioned Ahmed Musa

    But let’s progress beyond that …
    The guy is not playing at any elite European club or league ..

    He couldn’t make the cut in Man U ..he is ultra slow and will mess up the flow of Victor Osimhen.

    Why bring him back ?

    Reply
    • Josh says:
      1 year ago

      Thanks o..

      Reply
    • Mose says:
      1 year ago

      Our coach is suffer from technical deficiency. Since he took over, you could notice that the man a lazy man who came to Nigeria to collect his pension. So, Pinnick is the new scout for the coach? Rohr takes every shit that comes his way just to retain the job. He took pay cut sometimes ago, just to stay. He looks everywhere in the world to bring Nigerian to the team, especially those who are made in the came, because he jas nothing to add to the team. Rohr has no target, no focus and no ambition. He is a spent force

      Reply
      • Lawal says:
        1 year ago

        I don’t no why Nigeria players are pulling out of national team when they are still active and good to go. In fact Nigeria football association is not organized. Performed player should look into and bring back not only Igalo. They are pulling out is all for a reason not well with them and no consideration to it.

        Reply
    • Akilu Amadu says:
      1 year ago

      Very good comment

      Reply
    • Moses says:
      1 year ago

      Better Ighalo than Paul Onuachu. Bring him back and drop Onuachu.

      Reply
    • Anselm Ombudsman says:
      1 year ago

      I rest my case in line with the submission of Prof Patrick Enegho.
      To add more, infarct, there will be confidence in the super eagles as lghalo joins back the team. Victor Osimhen is good but considering an experience player like Ighalo, Osimhen cannot be a match with lghalo. Osimhen may not even be showing up for the rest two matches due to an injury. Outside that, Rhor should reorganize the team so as to accommodate both players strongly.

      Reply
  4. Mazi says:
    1 year ago

    We talking about the player who won the highest goal scorer in the last AFCON, highest or second highest goal scorer in Chinese league when he was there. Now scores goal in Saudi Arabian league, Scores goals at Man. United with the little opportunity he was given. Please this is not an accident. The coach knows why he needs him. Let the coach do his job please.

    Reply
    • Akilu Amadu says:
      1 year ago

      One person can not score goals with out assist of the other

      Reply
  5. Michael says:
    1 year ago

    I think we should leave the coach to do his job. We shall keep praying for the Super Eagles to make us proud. Nobody is above mistake even is that are FOR OR AGAINST.

    Reply
  6. Afuye says:
    1 year ago

    Ighalo is welcome to SE but Rohr should not make mistake to bench Osimhen. Ighalo is an asset to SE ,his experience is vital in SE upfront

    Reply
  7. Dennis says:
    1 year ago

    Ighalo’s return at this point makes no sense as far as am concerned. What the team need is creativity and a coach that can think. At a time like this when Nigeria has a lot of young strikers in hot form painting top European leagues with goals what do you need ighalo for? Has the same ighalo that missed clear scoring chances at the last world cup against Argentina suddenly improved and better than Oshimen, Muffi, Onochu, Awoniyi, etc that they are considering bringing him back? The coach and Amaju have some serious explanations to justify this decision

    Reply
  8. Dennis says:
    1 year ago

    Why not bring back Victor Moses, Onazi and Obi Mikel back too. When it seems we re making a little progress we turn and take many steps backwards. A good coach will use the current crop of talented players Nigeria has and win the AFCON.

    Reply
    • Shittu says:
      1 year ago

      V err y good point

      Reply
  9. Callistus ozoke says:
    1 year ago

    Our coach knows what he wants, he should be allowed to bring ighalo back , Cameroon brought roja Mila back from retirement 1990 world cup and he became a hero and Italy brought rose from prison in 1982 world cup and he became world best,so who knows what ighalo can do?

    Reply
  10. Wale says:
    1 year ago

    Ighalo Will not honour the invitation

    Reply
  11. Johnson Samuel says:
    1 year ago

    Nigeria is for all of to build. His coming is goof and commendable st this cortical time.

    Reply
  12. Amusan Michael Olabisi says:
    1 year ago

    Igalo can come back but not as a Captain because Musa is still the Captain so not cause problem I n team

    Reply
  13. Umar says:
    1 year ago

    Yes we have said all but I think coach know he wants.he knew the area that needs attention.pls allow him do his job.sfterall if he fail is the one to blame but if he won we all praise him.

    Reply
  14. Akilu Amadu says:
    1 year ago

    Go search very well we have more than igalo

    Reply
  15. George. V Immanuel says:
    1 year ago

    One thing I know for sure is that, the man Rohr is not the right guy for the Super Eagles job and Amaju Pinnick is only trying to convert the National team to his personal asset because of his ego, he also decides who comes to play or not in the national team and this is not healthy for game of football to thrive in this environment. I have said it once and I’ll repeat it again, why do we really wants to go for the world Cup? Just to represent or go there and ridicule ourselves in the first two games as usual and return home. The coach is not ambitious in handling our national team and he’s not going to win any single title with Super Eagles until he throws in the towel. Why did Ighalo left the team in the first instance, no one ever asked that. We mentioned Sadiq from Almería as at today is a better striker than Ighalo but they insist in bringing in someone closing to the end of his career at 32 compare to a fresh blood of 22 that could contribute a lot to the team and for a long term project. I have just given up on Super Eagles as long as Amaju Pinnick and Gernot Rohr still consider it as their personal business and offering the fans all these ridiculous unhealthy mediocrity.

    Reply
  16. Ikutegbe Matthew says:
    1 year ago

    Ighalo is a hustler of a No9 he can be abit selfish at times but he has got experience and we must leave no stone on turned to get to the world cup so if the coach feels he need him, then why not after all he the coach will take the heat if it turns out not to be right, i trust ighalo upfront to be honest, but he shouldnt think of droping victor osihmen even if ighalo returns, however what we really need the most is a creative midfielder…Thank you.

    Reply
  17. Hubert says:
    1 year ago

    Ighalo for me is a good striker but the question here to ask rohr is the striking department the challenge of the eagles? Is it what he should be panicking about? Do we have a reliable creative midfielder yet in the eagles? Are our defence and keeping department able to stand their ground wen we meet a complete team? These are the question we need clarity from the handlers I rest my case.

    Reply
  18. Salihu Ahmed kawu says:
    1 year ago

    Dear odion igalo, our proud nd respected super egle is on need of u, pls utilised ur little cariar that reminds to progress egle, Nigerian will proud of u, nd the history NPFL will never forgotten about you. Take eg.of RASHIDI YAKINI, SOMSON SIYASYA, TARIBU WEST, CELESTIN BABAYARO, T BABANGID, KANU WANKO, ETC.

    Reply
  19. Ossy Amadi says:
    1 year ago

    Our problem is that we hardly learn from others.
    Someone has asked why our players are leaving when they still can do great job for SE.
    But instead we are casting blame on this or that person.
    Let NFA have a rule that will govern the incoming and outgoing of players.
    And our dear players, much as we appreciate your contribution to the national team, patriotism is needed from you.
    Do what you can to better our records.

    Thank you.

    Reply
  20. King says:
    1 year ago

    We have good players, but this coach can’t make proper use of them…. U put ighalo on field and bench people playing at top league… What s ighalo playing self, and who call him to come back…. He fuck us up against agentinal in world cup and against Algeria in nations cup… This coach did go to coaching school lolzzz

    Reply
    • Dr Stephen says:
      1 year ago

      King, you are on point!!! I agree with u

      Reply
  21. Dr Stephen says:
    1 year ago

    Jude Ighalo and Victor Moses are no longer needed in the National Team right now. They have retired from Super Eagles and must respect their personal decision. They must respect themselves and carry on their football career with their respective clubs. Look at Ighalo’s performance against Cape Verde – he was a shadow of himself. If Cape Verde had defeated Nigeria, who will be talking about calling retired players??? Such defeat would have rubbished Ighalo’s achievement with Super Eagles forever as he would never have another opportunity to redeem his image. It seems they have forgotten about Nigerians anger after 2018 world cup. Ighalo failed to score . He did not give an assist to better positioned Ahmed Musa to score against Argentina and send Nigeria to the knock-out phase of 2018 World Cup. They later redeemed themselves at the Nation Cup with Bronze. Both players have done very well for Super Eagles but their time have passed. Pased is passed. Considering form right now, is Ighalo really better than any of the top 6 Super Eagles strikers (Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Terem Moffin, Paul Onuachu, Sadiq Umar and Taiwo Awoniyi). Is Victor Moses really better than Ejuke Chidera, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Samuel Kalu and other young Super Eagles wingers. Are we going forward or backward? The National Team is a different scenario from club football, where Ighalo had to wait until he came down to 4th in perking order before leaving Man U. It will be a HUGE disgrace for Victor Moses and Jude Ighalo to perform below the standard of these young Super Eagles. However both can come into the National Team set up as mentors. Instead of forcing Rohr to bring back old players, NFF should organize a BIG Send-off party for Ighalo and Victor Moses.

    Reply

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