The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ighalo

  • Ighalo on target in Granada defeat

    Ighalo on target in Granada defeat

    Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo got a late consolation in Granada’s failed attempt for a comeback in Thursday’s 2-1 home defeat to high flying Atletico Madrid.

    Ighalo only got his second start in five league games this season on Thursday night scored on the 90 minute mark for his first goal of the current La Liga season.

    Diego Costa’s 38 minute strike from the spot separated both sides at the break before former Valencia man and summer signing from Barcelona David Villa doubled Atletico’s lead 33 minutes after the break to seal the victory.

    The home side, however, fought hard but were put at bare by Diego Simeone led Atletico side and could only manage to reduce the inside the final minute of the game after Ighalo pounced home from a Allen Nyom’s assist.

    Atletico retain second spot on the table with 30 points, one behind Barcelona after 11 games while Ighalo and his team-mates sit in 14 spot with 11 points from the same number of games.

  • Granada coach queries Ighalo’s quality

    Granada coach queries Ighalo’s quality

    Odion Ighalo’s manager at Granada, Lucas Alcaraz, has conceded that his forwards lack quality, because they struggled in the final third as they played out a goalless draw away to Real Zaragoza.

    The newly-appointed Coach, however, placed importance on the team picking a point and recording a clean sheet.

    “It was a game of two halves, although perhaps it belonged more to the home side Zaragoza,” admitted Alcaraz after Monday’s game. “The target was a clean sheet and to pick up some points. There were a few chances created and a lot of intensity, but, perhaps, we lacked a bit of quality in attack. In the Primera Division it is difficult to score goals, the stats say that this is one area in which we must improve.”

    Ighalo is the main striker for Granada, and the Nigerian has scored only three goals in the La Liga this season.

  • Ighalo: Messi, Ronaldo make my game better

    Ighalo: Messi, Ronaldo make my game better

    GRANADA forward Odion Ighalo has claimed playing against two world class players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has improve his game this season and vows to lift the team out of relegation waters.

    Ighalo and his club have maintained fine form of recent time and he’s looking forward to consolidating against Celta de Vigo on Sunday.

    “We played better against Barcelona, but we lost. Though we scored first but conceded two goals scored by Messi. All we need to do is to focus on winning again.

    “ Playing away to Celta de Vigo will be tough but I believe we can get attain victory at the end. Away game in Spain is always difficult because the fans are so passionate about their team but l think our recent performance will keep us on the track.”

    Speaking further on his game, he said: “I am enjoying my game here, l am very much satisfied with my progress so far in the league.

    “I think playing in Spain has helped me to be a better player. “

    “Especially playing against the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and other great players in the league has really challenged me a lot to raise my game,” Ighalo added.