Taiwo Awoniyi's injury: Should former Man Utd striker Ighalo be recalled to Super Eagles squad for AFCON?

Nigeria is a country long known for producing quality strikers from different eras who stamped their names on both on the continental and international stages, from the primitive likes of Rashidi Yekini, Daniel Amokachi and the rest of their kind to the modern and versatile marksmen like Yakubu Aiyegbeni down to Victor Osimhen.
 

There is no doubt whatsoever as to why the Super Eagles are one of the most feared national teams on the continent and regarded highly in the western world.

In the modern day, the three time African champions can proudly say that they are absolutely stacked at the centre forward position boasting the likes of Victor Boniface, Terem Moffi, Sadiq Umar, Taiwo Awoniyi, Josh Maja, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Odion Ighalo including the world class Victor Osimhen considered to be one of the very best in the business at this present time.

A familiar name this article will be looking at is Odion Ighalo, who hasn't represented Nigeria since March 2022 and has been tipped to be recalled to the squad for next year's AFCON due to Taiwo Awoniyi being sidelined for four months due to injury.

The former FC Union Berlin and current Nottingham Forest striker sustained a groin injury whilst representing his country in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho and has gone t under the knife with the club confirming that he will take no further part in Forest's Premier League games for the rest the year and notably miss next year's AFCON with Nigeria.

This development however has brought the current Al Wehda marksman into play considering his current run of form but the question as to whether the current national team coach Jose Peseiro, sees him as a priority in attack given his experience.

The former Watford man earlier announced his retirement from Nigeria's senior national team right after the 2019  African Cup of Nations where he helped Nigeria achieve a podium finish, scoring the lone goal that made the difference against Tunisia in the third minute of the opening half of the bronze medal match.

He scooped the tournament's Golden Boot after scoring five goals and assisting once and was also interestingly the top scorer in the qualifying stages netting seven goals along the way.

In 2021, Ighalo reversed his decision to retire from the natonal team to the joy of many Nigerian football loving fans and was immediately recalled to the squad for the 2021 AFCON and the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

However, his club at the time, Al Hilal SC blocked him from representing Nigeria at the AFCON as they considered him key to their title winning strides to the heartbreak of many fans across Nigeria.

Since then, he has been one of Nigeria's most consistent forwards playing professional football abroad but has failed to catch the eye of national team coach Jose Peseiro.

The 34-year-old absolutely lit up the Saudi Pro League's scorer's charts in the past three seasons prior to the arrival of big names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr, finishing as top scorer in the 2021/2022 season with Al Shabab and Al Hilal notching 24 goals in 31 appearances.

He slipped to third the following season scoring 19 goals in 27 appearances and has currently 8 goals this season in 12 appearances for an Al Wehda side he joined in the summer of 2023.

There are certainly no doubts regarding the consistency of Ighalo and his statistics should have been able to earn him a call up to the national team especially at a time where injury has crept into the squad, ruling out one of the Super Eagle's main men up up front for next year's biennial tournament. One which Nigeria has failed to win in a decade.

It seems including the former Manchester United striker in the squad for the AFCON seems imminent for Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro, who is looking to change the narrative of decade long AFCON drought.

In conclusion, Ighalo is definitely one of Nigeria's viable options to fill the void left by Taiwo Awoniyi as his experience, strength on the ball and goal poaching abilities will not only complement the speed and ariel ability of Victor Osimhen in a two centre-forward pairing, but also bring in a fantastic blend of youth and experience in the striker department going into next year's AFCON but then again, everything depends on the manager's decision.

Ejim Kaycee

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com