Ighalo Seeks Personal Satisfaction With Nigeria’s National Team

Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia striker, Odion Jude Ighalo has opened up on the factors that made him accept a recall to the Super Eagles, two years after initially announcing his international retirement, megasportsarena.com reports.

With his name added to the latest roster of the Eagles, ahead of their home and away World Cup qualifiers against Ghana, the former Al-Shabab of Saudi Arabia attacker, who has also played for Watford and Manchester United of England, says he wants to justify his call up.

Having also starred for Changchun Yatai and Shanghai Shenhua of China as well as Udinese of Italy and Granada of Spain, Ighalo declared that he is out to gain personal satisfaction with the national team.

He went on to state defiance against critics that are slamming Eagles’ interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen for inviting him in his old age, as the former Julius Berger FC of Lagos and Prime FC of Oshogbo hitman reckons that his experience will come to bear in the quest for a ticket to Qatar 2022.

This comes three years after he called time on his international career shortly after winning the top scorer award at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, but was last year urged to step out of retirement in order to play at this year’s AFCON.

Although he could not make it to the competition in Cameroon, due to his former club’s refusal to release him, Ighalo looks credible enough for the Eagles’ call-up, having notched 18 goals in 25 appearances combined for Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab.

Despite being 32 already, Ighalo believes he still has a lot to offer to the Eagles, as he pointed out that he is now with his 11th team in the twilight of his professional career.

Ighalo told ESPN: “I have been called up, I will take my bag and I will go to represent my country and give my best on 100%.

“As long as I come out from every game and I’m satisfied with my performance — whether it is a win, loss, or draw — then that’s it.

“I’m a professional footballer. This is what I’ve been doing for 17-18 years so why would I be worried about what people say?”