Odion Ighalo reportedly retires from international duties with Super Eagles

Odion Ighalo reportedly retires from international duties with Super Eagles

Akan Anwankwo
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:49 PM

- Odion Ighalo has reportedly hung his boots with the Nigerian national team after four years

- The 30-year-old finished AFCON 2019 with five goals and a contender for the Golden Boot

- Ighalo was the highest goal scorer in the AFCON qualifiers scoring seven goals in total

Odion Ighalo has reportedly called it quits with the Super Eagles shortly after a successful campaign at AFCON 2019.

The Shanghai Shenhua striker is a strong contender for the Golden Boot award after scoring five goals in the tournament.

Renowned Sports journalist Osasuo and Brila FM are reporting that Ighalo agreed with Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr not to make a public statement before the third place playoffs with Tunisia.

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The 30-year-old scored the winner against the Carthage Eagles in the third place match but limped off in the 44th minute following a knee injury.

Ighalo made his Super Eagles debut under the tutelage of Daniel Amokachi in 2015 and later played his first competition with the senior team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

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He came under huge criticisms when Nigeria were eliminated from the 2018 World Cup after missing a glaring chance against Argentina which could have given the Super Eagles a 2-1 lead.

But the former Watford forward bounced back to become the highest goal scorer for the 2019 AFCON tournament qualifiers, notching up seven goals in the process.

Ighalo is now a strong contender for the Golden Boot award at AFCON with five goals as Senegal's Sadio Mane and Algeria's duo of Riyhad Mahrez and Adam Ounas are closest with the three goals.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that Odion Ighalo limped off just before half time during Super Eagles 1-0 win over Tunisia in the AFCON 2019 third place playoffs.

The Shanghai Shenhua striker scored the only goal of the game in the third minute to make him top scorer of the competition in the main time.

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Akan Anwankwo
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