Ighalo Hits Major Headlines, Following Debut In Asian Champions League

Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia striker, Odion Jude Ighalo’s name went agog on all major headlines across Asia, after he hit yet another milestone with his debut in the AFC Champions League, megasportsarena.com reports.

Following his first ever outing in the Asian elite clubs’ competition, all major headlines across the Middle East and Ighalo’s former base in China, where he starred for Changchun Yatai and Shanghai Shenhua, splashed superlatives for the veteran star.

The Asian media was in frenzy all through Saturday, as they noted the impact Ighalo made during his first game in the continental clubs’ competition and helped Al-Hilal beat Istiklol 1-0 at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh.

Ighalo, who has also previously played for Udinese of Italy, Granada of Spain as well as Watford and Manchester United of England, started and was in action for 72 minutes before making way for Abdullah Al Hamdan.

Before lining out for Friday’s home game, the 32-year-old Ighalo had not been available for previous matches against Sharjah FC and Al-Rayyan SC because he was recovering from illness.

Al Hilal are the only club with a one hundred percent after three matches in the group stage of the AFC Champions League.

The Blue Waves secured three points against Istiklol courtesy of Salman Al Faraj, who volleyed home from close range a cross put into the box by Yasser Al Shahrani.

It was another historic outing for Ighalo, who scored in his first game after the international break, to take his tally for the season to 23 goals in all competitions.

That effort, which came against his former club, Al Shabab, took his career best for goals in a single season to an all-time high in the process and he will only aim to etch for more personal glory in the coming days.