Nigeria fans have decided through an online poll conducted by Completesports.com that Manchester United loanee striker, Odion Ighalo, is no longer needed in the Super Eagles – that the player’s self-made international retirement decision after an excellent service should be respected by all.
The Super Eagles fans’ votes were collated from Complete Sports’ website, Facebook and Twitter platforms.
Following his impressive performances so far for United, since joining them on loan in January from Chinese Super Lig club, Shanghai Shenhua, readers were asked to decide, via a poll, whether or not Ighalo should yield to recent appeal from some quarters and return to the national team.
It was a close call after the respondents votes were collated from the three online channels and processed. The majority of the fans have voted that Ighalo should not return to the national team.
Also Read – POLL: Should Ighalo Rescind His Retirement Decision, Return To Super Eagles?
Fans who voted on Facebook and on Completesports.com also provided interesting comments to substantiate their respective decisions. In the end, the fans who voted against Ighalo’s return from international retirement were the. majority across the three channels as summarized below.
Website
Completesports.com readers voted via the comments section of the website. The result shows that 47% of them want the Manchester United striker to return to the Super Eagles, while 53% are against his return.
Facebook
On the Facebook page of Complete Sports, 19% of the respondents voted for Ighalo’s return to the Nigeria team. 75% rejected the call for his return, while 6% decided to sit on the fence.
Twitter
On Twitter, 43% of the fans said yes with their votes, that Ighalo was still needed in the national team. 35% said no, while 22% said they didn’t really care about what he decides to do.
Ighalo who signed for United following injury to Marcus Rashford, has made eight appearances, scored four goals and made one assist in all competitions.
On February 27th, Ighalo opened his goals account for United in his first start in their 5-0 home win against Club Brugge, in the Europa League second-leg Round of 32 tie at the Old Trafford.
He bagged a brace on March 5th in his second start in the 3-0 win against Derby County at Pride Park – the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup.
And in the Europa League first leg Round of 16 clash away to Austria’s LASK on March 12, the 2019 AFCON top scorer opened scoring as United won 5-0. He provided the assist for United’s second goal scored by Daniel James.
Ighalo was also nominated for United’s Player of the Month award for March, alongside Bruno Fernandes, Fred and Harry Maguire. Though Fernandes won it, Ighalo’s nomination spoke volume of his resourcefulness for United so far.
14 Comments
A very good result there
Mind you, I’m very sure there was low turn out of people that would have voted against his return, I still stand on my point, we have way better options than ighalo…let him score 50 goals per match for Man United (my wish for him) that wouldn’t still make me have a rethink becuz there are better options and there will always be better options
What else do we wanted Ighalo to come back and do with the team?
Ighalo have done his part and he left the team at the right time.
All we can say is thank you Mr. Ighalo for a great job.
We have to move on. Nigeria always have good players the coach can choose from.
Same thing applies to Akpayi and coach Agu.
We have better replacements for them.
NFF should have a rethink. We need the best candidates to represent us because a good coach is good as his team. God bless Nigeria!!!
his time is up, its always good to leave the stage when the ovation is loud.
let fresh legs be given the opportunity.
So it is not true after all, that we are on our knees begging Ighalo to return to the SE as some arm chair pundits have claimed in this forum. They said we were regretting after driving him away from the Super Eagles. This poll has spoken our minds.
We wish Ighalo well. We are genuinely pleased for his exploits at Manchester United. We would rather watch him score goals for Man U than to watch Rashford doing same. However, we would be glad if he stays retired from the Super Eagles.
Case closed!
* Peter Rufai came back for France 98 world cup after his good performances at 94 world cup, he messed up big time against Denmark, even committed error against Spain that didn’t result to goal.
* Rahidi Yekini came back for France 98, apart from his Scissors kick and the assist for Garba lawal’s goal against Spain, the rest was rubbish, esp, the game against Paraguay.
* Except for Osaze Odemwingie ..2014, that performed well in the Tournament but still lost possession that lead to France’s winning goal. We were a little bit happy for his performance though.
* Mikel Obi, AFCON 2019..by now will have wished he stayed out of the Team after world Cup.
So chief Ighalo, remember what u witnessed after the world cup and remain our hero forever! Na warning o!
You are spot Brother!!
‘Spot on’
Faulty poll! Statistically the poll is not a reflection of reality. The readers of Complete Sports are about 96% male and between the age group of 20 to 30. Nigerian football fans have a wider diversity which is not captured in the sample.
But my question remains : how come an overwhelming number of fans would allegedly rather prefer Victor Moses to come out of retirement than Ighalo?
I am sure that if a poll is conducted to see how many ‘readers and respondents’ of Complete Sports Nigeria would like to see Victor Moses come out of retirement, I think the opinion will tip more in favour of the on-loan Inter Milan man to return back to the Super Eagles family.
For me, it makes no difference whether Ighalo comes out of international retirement or not. We need all our best legs (who are willing) to prosecute upcoming assignments.
As thing stand, Ighalo is undoubtedly one of our best legs at the moment. However, is he willing? If he is, as a Nigerian he is welcome to lend his legs to the services of his fatherland once again. If he is not willing, chikena, we get am for kwality legs plenti plenti.
It is not like we are struggling in the centre forward department of the Super Eagles. In his absence, the team collectively have registered no less than 7 goals. Goals, we are scoring ; strikers, we have.
So, it really does not make any difference either way.
@Deo
I doubt if most Nigerians want Victor Moses.
On the contrary,I feel most would prefer Ighalo back rather.
I think Victor Moses is totally unnecessary right now,we are well stuck in the wings and the forward line; as you pointed out,we aren’t lacking goals; besides,he is prone to injury these days so he should enjoy his international retirement. We are all good..
Thanks for expressing your take on the matter Mr Hush.
Stay safe sir (in these strange times).
@Deo pleasure is always mine..
Stay safe Bro.
Sorry..Both of them have tried. We should enjoy their families and allow the young ones to continue as Moses said.
In place of Ighalo, we have Dessers and Osimhen while for Moses, we have Kalu, Chukwueze, Ejuke even at the right backs that he also plays, we have Aina and Ehizibue. We thank them…they have tried.
@ Sean
I guess you didn’t read between the lines.
No one is calling for Ighalo’s or Moses return.
I voted against Ighalo return. Stating the same point you gave.
Just stated my above statement in relations to @Deo context; either Moses or Ighalo, which the Nigerian fans would prefer to return if they are to pick any.
Obviously,I went for Ighalo.
So to clarify any misunderstanding;
Ighalo or Moses or any retiree is best left out since we are well stuck right now and in good hands.