Former Nigerian striker, Jonathan Akpoborie has warned Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr not to depend on Odion Ighalo for goals ahead of the team’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde respectively.
Ighalo, 32, last featured for Nigeria in 2019 after the AFCON and he was in action for his Saudi Arabia side Al Shabab on Friday in the last league game before the international break.
Nigeria currently leads Group C with 9 points from four games. They have two points more than their Group game opponents Cape Verde.
In an interview with Completesports.com, the former Wolfsburg star stated that the team must play as a unit in order to overcome the Lone Star at the Grand Stade de Tangier on Saturday.
He also warned the German tactician not to allow the players to focus their attention on Ighalo for goals if the team must overcome Liberia.
“The game against Liberia is a crucial game the team must win if they are to qualify for the final knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. However, the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr must divert the team’s attention away from Odion Ighalo for goals. They must play as a unit without depending on a particular player for goals.
“Yes, Ighalo is a good player but the team must be very careful with their approaches against Liberia. The squad is their to pick the maximum point but then, we must have to be very careful.”
Exclusive: 2022 WCQ: Don’t Depend On Ighalo For Goals -Akpoborie Warns Rohr
Austin Akhilomen
Augustine Akhilomen is a passionate sports content writer. A fan of the Super Eagles and Chelsea. My aim is to promote the game of sports globally.
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4 Comments
That’s his plan. forgotten that every department in the team really matters. Also, good tactics and ability to read games and know what to do on time.
Football is now beyond individual excellence. It’s now more of a team work.
In as much as he is right, let’s not forget that it is his primary function as a striker. If everyone should hold his department very well without unnecessarily putting pressure on other players, creating loopholes in other departments and making others to overlap then everywhere go Mara mara on Saturday…
Please who is depending on Ighalo for Goals when we have Osimhen.. Are Nigeriands living in on the same Planet as Everybody else???? I dey scratch my head o.
https://twitter.com/ZachLowy/status/1455241757768171531?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1455241757768171531%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.unitedinfocus.com%2Fnews%2Fodion-ighalo-earns-nigeria-recall-10-months-after-leaving-manchester-united%2F
The above is how majority of people view this Ighalo matter.
WHEN OLISEH, OKOCHA, AMOKACHI,YEKINI FINIDI, AMUNEKE STEPDOWN FROM SUPER EAGLE,99% NIGERIA MISSED THEM. UP TILL TODAY WE NEVER SEE 90% REPLACEMENT LIKE THEM. BUT SINCE TWO YEARS AGO IGHALO RETIRED FROM SUPER EAGLE, 99.9% NIGERIA FANS CAN SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT THEY DIDN’T MISSED HIM.
OR IS THERE ANYONE THAT WILL SPECIFICALLY SAY HE MISS IGHALO….(Am very sure, no one)
TALK YOUR OWN!