Odion Ighalo continued his impressive scoring form as he netted in Al Shabab’s 1-1 home draw against Al Fateh, in the Saudi Arabia league on Thursday.
Ighalo has scored 12 goals in 18 league appearances for Al Shabab in the ongoing league campaign.
Ighalo broke the deadlock for Al Shabab when he scored in the 66th minute before Al Fateh equalized on 78 minutes through Murad Batna.
The draw saw Al Shabab, on 34 points, miss the chance to close the gap on leaders Al Ittihad who are on 38 points with two games to play.
The Nigeria star, who tops the scorers chart, has now scored four goals in his last six games (three in the league and one in the Kong’s Cup).
By James Agberebi
5 Comments
_ Bring Ighalo Back Post-Afcon _
Though I am not an Ighalo fan, I still believe he would have played a huge role for Nigeria in the ongoing Afcon.
One the major gripes for inviting Ighalo was that the previous German coach tends to bench other strikers largely for Ighalo. But interim coach Eguavoen appears to have bucked that trend.
In Cameroon, no less than 19 players have tasted action with fans-villain Musa seeing meager minutes. In fact he was conspicuous in his absence in the saw dust game against Burkina Faso.
I think Eguavoen would have rotated his squad in manner that would have made Ighalo’s appearances less stale. I don’t mind Ighalo being part of the overall team set up, I just don’t want to see him continuously making the starting 11 and going the distance when other exciting striker are our there to be tested.
Eguavoen arranged his team in a manner in tune with the pulse of the fans. I doubt he would ever make Ighalo outstay his welcome on grass. Such a ruthless streak saw the Sapele born mephistophelean coach axe Sadiq Umar so soon after crashing the net against Guinea Bissau.
He is Mr No Nonsense indeed.
And for someone who has transformed the Super Eagles from Dard Horses to Elegant Unicorns in the space of 4 matches, he is unlikely to sacrifice his success on the alter of dubious team selection.
With a bumper and hugely impressive 12 goals in 18 league games this season, the drumroll should herald Ighalo’s return to the team post Afcon. The the tune will be dictated by Eguavoen (if he becomes permanent coach) who has shown thus far that nothing will stop him from selecting the best 11 that will restore the Eagles with the Super-crown that fell off their play towards the tail end of the last Coach’s dispensation.
**Correction: Musa was missing in the saw dust game against Guinea Bissau.**
Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, there are all ease pickings for this Super Eagles. 🙂
I am so chuffed with what Eguavoen is doing. I wanted at least 5 quality and memorable matches from the Super Eagles in this tournament: 3 down, 2 to go…….
AFCON IS TOUGHER THAN SAUDI ARABIA LEAGUE. DO NOT BE DECIEVED AND CARRIED AWAY.
NO MATTER WHAT RONALDO-MESSI ARE PLAYING TODAY THEY CAN NEVER BE LIKE BEFORE. NIGERIANS SHOULD NOT BE CARRY AWAY WITH GOALS IGHALO IS SCORING. AFTERALL AMOKACHI WAS TAKEN TO 1994 AFCON INSTEAD OF RICHARD OWUBORIKI THAT WAS HIGHEST GOALSCORER IN PORTUGAL.
LET GIVES CHANCE TO YOUNG ONES. WE STILL HAVE MOFFI, DESSERS, OLAYINKA, AMAO THAT ARE NOT PROPERLY TESTED. AND THESE PLAYERS HAVE GREAT POTENTIALS THAN THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN TESTED IN THE PAST
What do you gain from making noise? For anything, the highest goal scorer in Afcon right now, Vincent Aboubakar plays Al Nassr, a Saudi Arabia League where Ighalo is the highest scorer. The moment Osimhen and Ighalo are available for the World cup, those learners still practicing ball control in Afcon will be relegated to the bench.
Don’t mind them @Dayo na so them do indirectly pursue GENERAL ROHR. They complained he is collecting bribe, practicing favouritism. That why should he be inviting old/tired and sunday sunday footballers to the team. Not knowing the man knows what he is doing.
Currently the Afcon highest goal scorer like you pointed out plays in Saudi league and he is claiming 30 but to me looks beyond that LMAO!
He has 4 goals aready, more than the total number of goals from their give the “young ones” a chance (Awoniyi Sadiq etc) That play in competitive but wasting chances.. LMAO! Isn’t that an Irony! LMFAO!!!