Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick has hinted that Odion Ighalo could return to the Super Eagles.
Pinnick made this known in a long post on his official Instagram page.
Ighalo retired from the Eagles after helping the team to a third-place finish at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, where he emerged top scorer with five goals.
The 32-year-old has been in impressive form for Saudi Arabian top-flight side, netting eight goals in nine league games so far this season.
Pinnick discuss the hangout he and his family had at Wilfred Ndidi’s home in Leicester with Kelechi Iheanacho later joining them.
Also Read: I Was Disappointed Not To Leave Genk This Summer -Onuachu
He also revealed that he paid a visit to the Injured Oghenekaro Etebo and Ademola Lookman’s readiness to play for Nigeria.
“l spent quality time with Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho in Leicester over the weekend. I went with my wife and 3 of my kids who are on half term break. Our visit was a mere family visit and not official. Recall Wilfred is recuperating from an injury that has kept him out for about 5 weeks, being a very key player for the Super Eagles, we cannot afford to toy with our last 2 games. Ndidi has been integral, committed and passionate member of the Super Eagles.
“The good news is that his second scan came out very good so he start training with his club and possibly play in their next game. His wife, Dinma was a wonderful host, their little daughter, adorable. Kelechi joined us almost immediately and made us to laugh till we left.
“Thanks to Wilfred & Kelechi, my family truly appreciate you. also paid a visit to Oghenekaro Etebo, in Warri, we call him Afaras’. He is also recuperating very well but definitely cannot make the next two World Cup qualifiers, Nations Cup might also be a doubt, importantly he should heal 100% by His Grace and rejoin the Team. His family was quite warm and pleasant. We had quality time together and understood every language uttered as 2 proud Warri ‘boys’. He is in a great spirit with the right mental state of mind.
“I spoke extensively with Alex lwobi, who cannot wait to feature in those all important games. Ademola Lookman is excited about fighting for a shirt in the Super Eagles. He loves Nigeria. By His Grace we shall conclude the switch very soon.
“I had a long conversation with Odion lghalo, personally i believe we need experience in our attack to combine with our energically youthful
Osimhen, Onuachu, Kelechi et al.
“Odion body language is very positive. We are also in touch with his agents and club. The vibe going into these last 2 games and indeed AFCON is very good.
“WE THANK GOD ALMIGHTY FOR EVERYTHING.”
By James Agberebi
Copyright © 2024 Completesports.com All rights reserved. The information contained in Completesports.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Completesports.com.
COMMENTS
The question mark here is about Ighalo. I won’t be against it assuming we are talking about Victor Moses.
Thank you
Ighalo is still in best form of his career my brother
He is welcome if he wishes to return
This man is so confused, we don’t need igaho again in super eagle, victor Moses will add more value to our left wing back
In form in a Saudi arabian league?….what is the level of the opponents he is coming up against?….so we should throw away an Awoniyi who is doing wonders in the almighty Bundesliga?……How did we get here?
The same Ighalo who’s goals and assists helped to qualify you to the world cup?
The same Ighalo who emerged as the highest goal scorer at the Afcon?
My brother, if you had BP, it’s not Ighalo that caused it.
@Sean you are right Vic Moses is someone who deserves persuading out of retirement however, irrespective what is Ighalo name coming up for?????..
When We have a Player Leading the line for Napoli and a Starter in Leicester and also the 2nd Highest Scorer in Bundesliga.. What is Ighalo name coming in the mix for. I think Ighalo maybe would be willing to bribe his way in like Musa is currently doing, That’s the only logical explanation. You can’t get away with this o Oga Pinnick.
Does this Mugu Pinnick know that we have Players who don’t only belong to us but to their European Fans. The World Wide Media will tear Pinnick a new Ass hole if he tries any shoddy rubbish with this Ighalo matter. It is not like the past where we had players that weren’t so High profiled now we do let this mugu just try that rubbish
Agitation is not good for anyone.
No one should be persuaded to come out of retirement…..we should concentrate on the up coming talents…… Forward ever abeg…….We have many talented players waiting on the sidelines and playing top level football but we are still begging older players to come out of retirement…..who does that?……Let’s give the young ones a chance because Victor Moses and Ighalo where also given the chance when they where young.
Well-done boss, this is what leadership is all, God bless you real good!
We should be talking about Victor Moses as well; very important
What of Dennis?…..Victor Moses and Dennis who is playing at a higher level right now?
Hmmmm! Ighalo ke! Why ighalo again na???
Abeg make una complete Lookman switch soon o make we know what’s up…
I don’t think strikers are what Nigerian needs this time… Nigeria is currently experiencing good and potent strikers in Europe the likes of Osimehn, Awoniyi, Sadiq, Onuachu and not forgotting Cyriel Dessers of feyenoord….
Rohr is simply lacking confidence and trust in these aforementioned strikers why can’t he be lacking confidence in them is what I don’t know!
I suggest, Rohr should rather look forward to blending the mentioned strikers above together and give them words of confidence with the right tactics, excellent reading of the game, time and adequate substitution model, the super eagles can fly above any team in the world football.
Stop this snuff, it’s not good for your brain. Nigerians are about the very best filling the slots. For the fact that Odion’s return would confined some players to the SE bench doesn’t mean Nigeria shouldn’t go for the best. Are sure you read the article? The 32-year-old has been in impressive form for Saudi Arabian top-flight side, netting eight goals in nine league games so far this season.. What Nigeria fans need now are those free loaders who can load any opposing nets free willing.. with Odion, Osimhen and Awoniyi, your guess certainly would be as good as ours.
Stop it Ighalo is scoring goals in Saudi Arabia, Manchester offloaded him and he has done us alot of harm at major competitions. Nigeria has Dessers, Sadiq, Awoniyi, Moffi even Simy playing in a better league and scoring goals with all of whom are behind Osigoal. What do we need Ighalo for again to come and miss open net? Complete Sports started this shi publishing of Ighalo instead of giving us news of Obinna in turkey league and other strong performing players. Nigeria is going down down down and down!
Oseodion I greet you sir, which day you start to dey gather fans for here? I mean to say which day you join our forum? Stop spamming the website with your cloning and reactions. Football is a serious business not where we joke.
You beat me to that men, even those men that make this forum thick hardly get 22likes not to talk of one newbies.
That na boss of spamming I called him out few days ago. He has like 10 different names here but his pattern of writing and his cause is always the same. Always ready to die for anything that has to do with Edo….lol
Pinnick your days are numbered. Nigeria has strikers scattered everywhere and you are planning to bring Ighalo to add to Musa. I know you guys are trying to increase your payroll but mark my word you’ll reap what you sow if you continue depriving younger generations opportunity to represent their country.
@Odion, they need to know the job has passed commenting stage to editing articles, you comment I edit for readers. Lolz
He has the fear of God in him which is the most important. “WE THANK GOD ALMIGHTY FOR EVERYTHING.” Pinnick. Another thing I noticed in the write up, he never segregated but ensured a balanced visitation, though I see him looking up Musa, Shehu and co in coming weeks. By and large folks, Nigeria is the winner.
Na waoo! Must everything be turned into agitation? That is not fair now. The man, Pinnick, his hosts with their families are happy, so what’s your own? Think Nigeria first and free your mind from inanities. Just like the others are saying, the very best footballers should be picked by Yusuf, Rohr and their members there. This is not difficult to understand now.
When I talk you say I am Mad. well I just mentioned this yesterday and it is playing out already… Don’t worry when they are finished with this team. Onazi will make the squad ahead of Ndidi and Onyeka..
When Victor Moses is doing wonders. Instead of pinnick to go and speak to Moses he is trying to sabotage our World Cup already watch and see these people will destroy our World Cup ambitions.
I will not be surprised if Awoniyi, Dennis and co don’t get another looking in even if their efforts are good at club level.
In Pinnick’s Mind we need Ighalo nawa o a whole NFF President this is shameful, when the presidents first priority is development of youth, He is blessed with some of the best young talent and he is trying to sabotage their careers, shameful Pinnick. how did Ighalo get his experience was it not by Playing so why not allow the younger higher profiled players that we already have play and reinforce them with other qualilty players doing well.
what this team needs is to inject Dennis for now. Lookman at the moment he is not really needed because I don’t forsee him getting much game time at Leicester with Patson Daka’s form Lookman has dropped down the pecking order at Leicester and is behind Jamie Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho, Patson Daka, Ayozee Perez and Harvey Barnes, I think we need some sort of staff in that team that follows the goings with regards to our players club level form, because it really seems that our SE staff are not keeping current date with our players.
So currently Dennis is a far better option than Lookman. so all we need now is to add Dennis to the team give Ekong the Armband Drop Musa, Persuade Victor Moses out of Retirement and do not extend any Invite to Ighalo HE IS NOT NEEDED.
Exactly what I want to add, his agitation is becoming nonsensical and none is even listening. Don’t you read the news? May God bless Pinnick for this unity visitation. My only stress is that Rohr who stay glued to sports news to pick his players instead of traveling around to have a first hand knowledge of how the selection should be done. Such attitude that brought bench warmers like Onuachu to the SE.
You are laboring in vain. Odion will bench Onuachu and Iheanacho, that is his problem. But we don’t have to sacrifice the best for such dirty mindset. The coach by now should know what to do or who to select.
Seriously… Those steps that Pinnick took by visiting those players can make them wanna die for the country but with Shehu, Omeruo, Musa ? We don’t need Ighalo to also come and be wasting space on the bench since its sure all these players will retire or leave the national team after the tournament with possibly Balogun. If its true we are building for future then, we don’t need ighalo. And if they insist on experience then with Kalu and Simon struggling in international color then we need Moses and not Ighalo.
Please let us push for the return of Victor Moses and a call up for Lookman.
Ighalo let Nigeria down at the World Cup in Russia. The Super Eagles are more shaky in midfield than in attack. Pinnick should be begging Victor Moses to return.
God bless you my brother @Ako Amadi, you just took that outta my mouth. the problematic creative midfield in my opinion needs urgent attention. I saw on owngoal.com today that Rorh is currently all over the place scouting for options here.
As regards Ighalo coming back, my take is even if we have Messi, Neymar and Mbappe as our front three and we don’t sort out that attacking cum creative midfield palaver, our team may still struggle for goals
If we can persuade Victor Moses to return then I’m 100% sure the next AFCON is coming to Abuja
I have noticed someone on this thread is spamming with multiple id to create confusion on this topic. Oseodion Inegbenebor, Omokaro, Stefan and Salami are same writer. Keep up your nonsense jobless clown!
Yes I also took note some people funny my brother.
This is a good initiative by NFF ONIGBESE president.
However, a better way to motivate the players and endear yourself to the players and the fans is to see to the players’ welfare by:
1) Paying any and all past bonuses owed immediately. And future bonuses should be paid promptly. Coaches’ salaries should also be disbursed in similar fashion.
2) Taking care of players’ health care needs.
3) Ensuring that our home games are played on world-class pitches, to help players play their best and also protect the players from injury.
These are the things that are urgently needed.
It is not the NFF president’s Job to go and Visit the Players. It is the Coach’s Job Not the NFF president, Players form Drop so how does he know if the players he is visiting are in the coaches plans and mind you just by him talking about Ighalo shows, he knows not what he is doing.
Also He doesn’t and Shouldn’t be the one to decide who comes out of retirement and Not HE IS NOT A COACH.. Did you listen to him try talk tactics to the boys last time around. He knows nothing about on field footballing matters.
This is where the problem starts and where you guys fail to see how this undermines the coach.
I think is about time Nigeria gets rid of this unprofessional Amaju Pinnick as the NFF Chairman before he does more damage to Nigerian football. This guy gets himself in all sorts of antics which is unbecoming of a sports administrator
It may not be on his job description to go visit players. But establishing a good rapport with the players is not bad, and I would encourage it.
However, visiting players up and down without taking care of their needs will smirk of hypocrisy!
I wonder if he can visit Leon Balogun in Scotland?
Gbege fit set for there, because Balogun, though a respectful and nice guy, will not mince words, or hide his feelings about the unpaid bonuses!
To remove shame from himself and the Federation, Pinnick should do the needful. Then, when he visits players, they will be even happier to receive him!
At the end of the day, visiting a player does not mean the player is guaranteed invitation. Etebo for instance will not be available next month, and may also miss the Afcon.
What visiting players accomplishes is letting the players know that they are being observed, we are interested in them. For instance, Pinnick can visit Nwakali in Spain. Rohr may not invite him later on, but Nwakali will know that his progress is being monitored, and that may motivate him to greater heights. That in my opinion, is the advantage that accrues from player visits.
Ugo did you read he said it was casual visit.
Amaju pink is the best FA chairman we’ve had in recent time relating with the players like family that nice of him..well done sir
Regarding the Odion Ighalo issue, for me, it’s not complicated.
As long as the criterium for invitation is merit and the invitation process is transparent, we will always be ok.
If Odion Ighalo is one of the BEST strikers we have worldwide, THEN WE NEED HIM. Period.
If he isn’t, THEN WE DON’T NEED HIM.
Why should we take Awoniyi, Dessers, Onuachu, Iheanacho and others ahead of Ighalo IF HE IS BETTER THAN THEM? Makes no sense. On the flip side, why take Ighalo if he is not as good as the strikers we currently have?
Ighalo playing in Saudi Arabia does not mean he isn’t good. It would be a big mistake to arrive at that conclusion!
For example, Baghdad Bounedjah of Algeria is one of the most clinical strikers in Africa and indeed the world, in my opinion. A big game player who delivers when the going gets rough. Very reliable finisher. THE GUY PLAYS IN QATAR FOR A CLUB NAMED AL SADD. Go figure.
Bounedjah would walk straight into our starting eleven if he was available for us. The only striker I would rate ahead of him is Big Vic. So, if Ighalo is PROVEN TO BE ONE OF THE VERY BEST THAT WE HAVE, and wishes to return, I don’t see why we should deny ourselves of a good thing. An in-form Ighalo partnering Osimhen upfront is a good thing! And guys like Iheanacho, Awoniyi and others can always come in from the bench. Or Rohr can rotate the squad. Ighalo and Osimhen don’t need to start every game.
It’s up to Rohr and his crew to evaluate all our forwards and select THE VERY BEST to represent us. If Ighalo is selected purely on merit, I don’t have a problem with that!
What we don’t want is an out-of-form Ighalo or any other player selected for reasons other than merit. That is what we must kick against.
Shut up I will choose Odey of Randers playing conference league football and scoring goals week in and out over Ighalo from Saudi league that they are not even top 5 club. You people don’t have sense on this page. Ighalo father!
You will chose Odey if Ighalo is better than him?
Then it is you that is a CONFUSED FOOL and needs to shut your smelling mouth.
If Ighalo scores a hattrick for us against Liberia in November, it is fools like you that will still come out to celebrate!
Let the best be selected, period!
If Ighalo is among the best, and he is willing to return to the squad, so be it!
Ighalo is not better than any of what we have now. Ighalo cannot even do what Taiwo Awoniyi is doing in Germany cuurently. 2 years ago maybe but not now.
Moreover with our knowledge of Sport from whichever way you look at it, It Makes more sense and I repeat @Pompei, It Makes more sense Listen carefully @Popempei, to take either of Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi and Paul Onuachu over Ighalo. Because form where the 5 players including Ighalo are in question will be From now until World cup, Victor, Kels, Taiwo and Paul will get better as they improve and gain experience meaning, though they are already ahead of Ighalo now and will give more, they still have the age advantage and they will only get better as the season goes on, Where as Ighalo being over 30 is only going to decline in speed which he never really possessed. Mind you Ighalo was finished after that Algeria game, semis Afcon as his lack of pace was the bane of our existence Algeria Really contained him effortlessly where as Osimhen, With that pace and Iheanacho’s vision I mean What do we need Ighalo for really. and we have the 3rd highest goals scorer in Germany Taiwo Awoniyi lying in wait.
Pompei it is only in Nigeria where Ighalo is seen as the best No 9 in the world because Nigerians are in dream Land and like to stay stuck on past glory . Move on bro Move on Ighalo is not needed.
I mean this debate would have made more sense if we weren’t blessed with such lethal options…..
Mr. Iwunze,
I am NOT asking for Ighalo to be invited.
I don’t give a damn who is invited. All I care about is that ALL INVITATIONS MUST, I REPEAT, MUST BE BASED ON MERIT.
If Rohr does his job, and decides not to invite Ighalo, I will support whoever he invites. If he decides to invite Ighalo, I don’t have a problem with that. AS LONG AS ROHR’S INVITATIONS ARE MERIT BASED.
Let’s stop complicating things unnecessarily.
Stephen Odey and all the strikers in the Super Eagles and even Ike ugbo are far better than Ighalo. Ighalo should leave Nigeria football alone. Ighalo should stop this distraction and let the team be. He should go far.
If they are better, then yes, Ighalo should not be invited ahead of them. I agree 100%.
But if Ighalo is better nko? How do you justify his exclusion if he indeed is one of our best?
Let Rohr do the work, and invite the very best legs.
How can ighalo be better than those players and he will be playing in Saudi arabian league?….Ighalo is collecting his retirement benefit in Saudi you people are talking about him playing in the National team….. Ighalo has passed his peak and can never be able to hold his own in any top league in Europe……so why should players battling in top leagues in Europe be dropped because of him?
Akp, how come Algeria striker BAGHDAD BOUNEDJAH who plays in Qatar is one of the most dangerous forwards in Africa today?
It is not where you play only, your ability and experience also matters.
Why did we keep using Mikel even when he was playing in China?
Ighalo may or may not be better than what we have now. It’s not up to me or you to decide. Let the coaching crew do their job.
With every day development in NFF, I get confused more and more. Pinnick and NFF won’t stop spoiling our darling Super Eagles.
What do we need Ighalo for? Ighalo is playing and scoring regularly for a SAUDI ARABIAN side doesn’t mean we should clamour for his return to the team. Or is it his experience that is needed at this time where the likes of Osihmen, Awoniyi, Moffi etc are scoring regularly for their European club sides and trying to out do each all for a fight for the Eagles Jersey?
For God sake, we don’t need Ighalo. Ighalo has done his best and retired and should be allowed to retire permanently. I knew it will come to this. No day will pass without Complete Sports giving us a report about Ighalo Jude. This was how our Mathematician was always clamouring for Joseph Yobo for Eagles job before he was made an Assistant Coach with little or no experience and today, we all are seeing the emptiness he brings to the team.
We all have to say a big NO to IGHALO’S return. If any retired player is ever needed right now, it’s no other person the Sea Divider himself, Victor Moses. We all have witness since the last World Cup how our team has being from lack of creative players.
Its time to stand up and tell the AMAJU led NFF enough of their cluelessness.
@King Tuoyo Thank you well spoken bro..
Let me reiterate.
IF IGHALO IS NOT BETTER THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, I WILL BE AMONG THOSE INSISTING THAT HE STAY AWAY.
But if he is one of our best, WE NEED HIM.
At the end of the day, we need strikers who can put the ball in the net. It doesn’t matter who the person is. If they are the best and are willing to play for us, we need them.
I don’t understand why we like to complicate very simple things.
Let merit be the watchword. With meritorious selection, the best will be selected. Whoever they may be, THE BEST IS ALWAYS WELCOME IN THE TEAM!
Ighalo will miss the net Ighalo will always be Ighalo. Them swear give us?
Who no dey miss open net? CR7, Mo Salah, Harry Kane, Haaland, Lukaku, have all missed open net in the past. Lewandowski missed open net just last week.
Did Osimhen not miss open net against CAR in the second leg? Did Awoniyi not miss open net in the first leg? Why don’t you clamour for their exclusion?
Maybe English comprehension is your problem. Otherwise, I don’t understand how you can argue with A MERIT BASED SELECTION CRITERIUM.
We don’t care who the person is. If they are the best we have, and they want to play, WE NEED THEM!
playing in Europe and playing in Afcon qualifiers are different things, Ighalo has bunch of experience playing against African opposition. Like someone said earlier that Algerian striker playing in Qatar is one of the best in Africa, very strong and clinical, you think Algeria don’t have ST in France league? I support Ighalo recall for his experience and victor Moses should be contacted also
@ Pompeii, you are absolutely right on invitation by merit. But truth be told, I have been watching most of Ighalo’s game for Al Shabab.. Yes he scores, but he is not anywhere near the Ighalo of last AFCON talkless of the Ighalo we saw during his Watford days. He is now a bit slower, obviously due to age. ATnd that slow pace will greatly affect this present team whose attack pioneered by Osimene thrives on speed/aggression. Rohr has to be careful with all these unnecessary interference on players selection. Attack isn’t where will are lacking ooo. We don’t have back up for attacking midfield position as well as central defence. These are the areas that need fixing. Let’s I forget, we also not there yet in the goal keeping department. If I must suggest, VICTOR MOSES WHO CAN PLAY AS ATTACKING MIDFIELDER, RIGHT WING BACK, WIDE MAN, BE IT LEFT OR RIGHT, SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONE TO TRY AND GET BACK TO THE TEAM. Anyway the criteria must always be, LET THE BEST BE SELECTED.
Glory, thanks for your comment.
if it is indeed true that Ighalo is not in form, then it stops right there. His non-invitation is completely justified.
This is where we need to trust in Rohr. He is the one that can assess the players, and determine who is in form, and who best fits his tactics and philosophy.
LET ROHR DO HIS JOB, AND SELECT THE VERY BEST PLAYERS. WE WILL SUPPORT WHOEVER IS SELECTED.
HMMMMMMM NOW WE CAN SEE CLEARLY THAT THE HUMILIATION SUFFERED IN THE HAND OF CDR IN LAGOS IS BEGINNING TO TEAR FA APART. I THINK PICKNICK AND CO ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH ROHR THAT IS WHY THEY FELT BRINGING IN SOME PLAYERS MIGHT SAFE OUR ASS TO QUALIFY FOR WORLD CUP. THEY KNOW ROHR IS NOT COMPETENT AND IF WE SHOULD SCAPE THROUGH TO THE LAST STAGE ,NIGERIA WILL BE EXPOSED BY TOP AFRICAN COUNTRIES. I ALSO FEEL ROHR HAD A MEETING WITH PICKNICK ON THE WAY FORWARD AND HE REQUESTED FOR SOME PLAYERS TO BE RECALLED TO BOOST EXPERIENCE IN THE NATIONAL TEAM.
IT IS A SHAME THAT AFTER FIVE YEARS IN CHARGE NOBODY SEEMS TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN ROHR TECHNICAL ABILITY TO PRODUCE VICTORY FOR EAGLES IN TIGHT SITUATION. I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM IF BRINGING IGHALO WILL MAKE US QUALIFY BUT I FEEL WE NEED VICTOR MOSES MORE THAN THE FORMER, WE HAVE QUALITY STRIKERS ALTHOUGH IGHALO CONFIDENCE AND BULLLISH TENDENCY WILL HELP US BUT ITHINK WHAT WE LACK IS CREATIVE SPARKS LIKE VICTOR MOSES THAT GUY IS A GEM THAT CAN CREATE SOMETHING FROM NOTHING,IT WAS HIS BRILLIANCE THAT GAVE US THE LAST NATION’S CUP.
JUST WEEKS I READ A NEWS WHERE THIS PLAYER THAT PLAYED IN ISREAL SPOKE ABOUT THE FALL OUT BETWEEN MIKEL OBI WITH SOME PLAYERS WERE FURIOUS WITH ROHR OVER HIS LACK OF TATICS , EVEN MOSES RETIRED BECAUSE OF THIS AFTERR THE WORLD CUP.
FOR PEOPLE CLAMOURING FOE DENNIS ,WELL HE IS A GOOD PLAYER BUT NOT THE MESSIAH AND NOT IN THE CLASS OF VICTOR MOSES. GOD BLESS YOU ALL
Picnic stop the ogogoro that you are drinking.You better return the bribe Ighalo gave you.
You are the worst nff president ever. Shame on you Travelling and talking about the Eagles all the time.. what about falcons, falconer, Eaglets, Flying Eagles, and other teams.
Who is Ighalo going to replace as top 9 Osi, Awo, Onuachu, Moffi, Sadiq..Even he can not bench Odey, Akpom, or Okereke..
Ighalo thinks he can bribe his way into Super Eagles.
This Picnic guy is insane. Is he now the coach of the team that he will be talking about player’s selection, I have never seen the head of a country FA talking about selection. You should be talking about payment of players and coaches bonuses and wages.
Picnic paid e-rats are on here disliking sensible comments but that will not stop people’s opinion.
Do you have proof that Ighalo tried to bribe his way back into the national team?
You just open your mouth and run down the reputation of your fellow man, without proof?
How would you feel if someone did this to you?
If you don’t want Ighalo in the SE, that is your opinion. You are not the coach, though. Rohr has the final say on who gets invited.
A reasonable person will conclude that if Rohr’s selection methods are 100% merit based, then it doesn’t matter who is invited. A merit-based method will ALWAYS ENSURE that our best legs are invited. And if Ighalo is one of them, congrats to him. Welcome to the squad.
Ogah #pompei, Ighalo has retired; Leave him be. We have Better, Younger, more proactive and better placed strikers in the top 5 league of this world. Osimhen, Taiwo, Iheanacho and even Dessers, Dennis, & Sadiq Umar. The coach should integrate them ASAP. However, which of Osimhen, Taiwo, or Iheanacho is Ighalo going to bench? Mind you, Ighalo could not untie the sandals of Anthony Martial in Man U let alone Cavani. Plsss and Plsss, its forward ever and backward never. (My opinion).
But if the coach in connivance with NFF decides otherwise, they will still take the blame should it boomerang. Pls NFF should get us Olise, K. Nwakali, Alhassan, Ejaria, or E. Eze to strengthen our midfield going forward. Thanks!!!
Griity, am I holding Ighalo? I’m not holding him na. Why do you ask me to leave him be?
Your comment shows that you didn’t read my comments before forming your opinion about me. Do your due diligence.
As for me, I refuse to hate Ighalo for no reason.
If he stays retired, fine! If he comes out of retirement, AND HE IS BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE, no wahala!
We keep deceiving ourselves, saying our attack is strong, we have many options. We faced CAR with Osimhen, Iheanacho, Awoniyi, and Onuachu, and struggled so badly to score goals!
Yes, we need creative AMs, but we still managed to create so many chances, which our strikers fluffed!
If we’re growing grey hairs trying to score against CAR, how will we fare against Algeria, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, Morocco, Mali?
How about if we meet Brazil, Argentina, France, Belgium, Spain, England, Holland, Portugal, Germany?
All I’m saying is that it’s good that we have a large pool of strikers to pick from. If the coaches decide to add Ighalo to that pool, I’M FINE WITH THAT.
We help ourselves by widening the selection pool, and selecting the best to play for us. The best is what we demand. Whether Ighalo is included in the selection or not is up to the coaches.
If our best continue to struggle against the likes of CAR, then perhaps that is a subtle hint that we are just not good enough, and have no business at the world cup.
There is no need for all this debate lghalo time has passed I am sure our coach will not invite him becos we have so many young players waiting on the wing to get their time all he should be focus is how to get a good creative midfielder who can help the team
Victor Moses would be a wonderful addition to this squad. But it all boils down to this question – DOES HE WANT TO COME BACK?
We can try to convince him, but we can’t force him.
Unless Pinnick is telling lies, it appears Ighalo is willing to come back. Now, if he is not as good as the younger strikers, CASE CLOSED.
But, if he is better than them, how can we not invite him? You take your best soldiers to a war. You have no choice. Unless you are a saboteur.
If Ighalo is PROVEN TO BE ONE OF OUR BEST, we need him. We must invite him.
A good striker can mean the difference between coming home with the Afcon trophy, and coming home empty handed.
Make una think am well well!
1. Did he say he persuaded ighalo. He said his body language. That has been ighalo body language.
2. Moses body language has been negative right from time so he has given no room for any discussion on coming back.
3. Can we learn to appreciate people even for little things. He went on a visit which is good. Can we praise him for that instead of all the sticks on him.
4. Personally, I believe we don’t need ighalo again. We have strikers who can do better than him presently in the squad.
5. With oshimen, awoniyi, sodiq, onuachu in that order, any coach should be confident.
6. Particularly I want to see more of sodiq and awoniyi. Their playing styles suit the Nigerian tradition. Dessers is another quality striker.
7. For most of you who don’t know,Moses should be the least oerson that should be considered. Yes a great player but even in those days, he chooses games he woul play. We don’t have rooms for that again today. His manner of retiring from super eagles show he is not ambitious or does not have any plan to achieve greater things with eagles. This is different with the present eagles. Don’t bring him in to disrupt the balance in the team.
8. Moses retirement made him to take himslef out of the roll call of super eagles legend. He played two world cups for us but had little impact in both.
So let’s just forget him forever.
Finally, is it difficult to comment without abusing and cursing and using foul languages on online forums by Nigerians. It’s really a sorry sight when people comment and use abusive languages and foul languages.
Confident with Onuachu? Which super eagles are you watching? Like seriously.
I am not sure though but I think read somewhere shortly after the 2018 W/Cup that Moses’ early retirement was down to the fact that he isn’t always ready to play the wing-back role when he comes to the SE and GR had to always practically force him to play the role. This is a role he play with so much JOY under Antonio Conte and he is also playing presently with Spartak Moscow.
PS: I don’t know how true this story is though, na read I read am somewhere
How many more years do ighalo and victor moses have to give to the Super Eagles, Maybe one year of top flight action before they cant play at the top level anymore.
We are still complaining of musa in the team and how we want him to retire but some people still want players who have willingly retired to come back.
We should rather allow our young talents to grow in their roles and in the team. We should also scout better players and give them chances to play in the team. Not calling back players who are out of the team.
You are wrong. The Nations cup is not what you gamble with. Every nation needs a mixture of experience and some flexibilities.
@sportfan the point is Victor Moses is the only player we need now when it comes to experience he is really delivering. Moses is the only player from 2013 and Omeruo that deserve to in the current team.
Musa should have been dropped years ago, Ighalo not needed But Vic Moses definitely is. he is really playing well he is currently carrying Spartak Moscow on his back.
Why do we look for shortcut to do things in this country. I hope Ighalo respects himself and stays retired. If we are really serious about the future it should be now with the generation of players we have. Victor Moses is not coming back that’s a fact. His body language and the fact he retired so fast after the WC and just as someone pointed matches sometimes. Just going to keep watching cuz it seems like this Amaju Piknick is on a self destructive mission.
The team needs experienced players. I wrote it somewhere that the mixture and flexibility is very important. At the stage, no nation goes there with doubtful players. Apart from Awoniyi and Osime, other strikers there are not there yet, they are only forcing themselves on the coach. It is not right.
And what if we don’t qualify for the WC or do well at the Nation’s cup with Ighalo’s inclusion won’t it be back to square one? So we have Musa taking up space and then an Ighalo from an ineffective Arab league but leave young talents from a strong league? Experience comes along from starting early in the national team. All I see is a football president and Coach scared to take risks. They will be damned to realize that the Ighalo of 2018 is not the same. The Arab league is not as competitive as the leagues we have other strikers in…. and why is the President forcing players on the Coach why can’t Rohr voice out that he needs so and so players.
Really?
@Footballfanatic, the problem is the so-called youthful strikers like Onuachu and Iheanacho are not reliable enough to gamble the Nations cup with. If we are to tell ourselves the truth, we have only Victor and Awoniyi as capable strikers on the Nigeria side. Besides all that, the tournament requires at least 2 experienced players to beef up the team. I think some of you are being sentimental about the whole thing. Rohr and Yusuf would select whoever is fit enough
I don’t even know if Amaju is chief scouter now.
Why Ighalo again when we have the likes of Dessers, Dennis, Simy, Onuachu and Awoniyi to say the least?
You Pinnick doing any how as if you own Super Eagles.
As I always said, we hire and we fire, your days are numbered.
You brought Salisu Yusuf back into the Super Eagles and now Ighalo.
If you don’t know what to do, is better you step away from your position.
Who does that kę. You brought Oga Rohr to Nigeria for a purpose and since you did, no way forward.
You even suggested that the gaffer should go for a refresher course.
Anyway, we will kick you out soon. God bless Nigeria!!!