The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ighalo

  • Ighalo scores 11th goal

    Odion Ighalo scored a brace for Changchun Yatai to beat Dalian Yifang 3-0 and he is now just four goals short of his 15-goal haul from last season.

    The former Watford striker is now joint second leading scorer in the Super League with 11 goals, two goals behind top scorer Wu Lei of Shanghai SIPG.

    Ighalo was on target from the penalty spot in the 10th and 39th minutes for his club to halt a two-game losing run. He has scored three goals since the World Cup in Russia.

    Changchun Yatai is now 12th on the 16-team table with 17 points from 15 games.

  • Ighalo promises improved Eagles

    Odion Ighalo has sounded Nigeria’s readiness for Iceland in their second game at the 2018 World Cup tomorrow at the Volgograd Arena.

    On Saturday, in their opening match against Croatia, Gernot Rohr’s men conceded two goals and failed to trouble goalkeeper Danijel Subasic.

    The loss saw the West Africans rooted to the bottom of Group D, thus, needing a good result against Iceland to stand a chance of nicking a place in the knockout stages of the competition.

    And the striker hopes the team creates openings against Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men to help secure a favourable result.

    “Our team spirit is very important to us. No matter if we win or lose, we are always united and thinking the same way,” Ighalo told FIFA website.

    “We believe in this unity and we believe in our team. The Iceland game will be different from the Croatian one.

    The three-time African champions reached the round of 16 at the previous edition of the tournament in Brazil and will be hoping to, at least, match the feat.

  • Balogun, Ighalo join Eagles in Uyo

    Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that former Watford star Odion Ighalo and Brighton & Hove new signing Leon Balogun are set to participate in the Super Eagles next training session ahead of their friendly with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Ighalo and Balogun flew together to Uyo this morning from Lagos and are expected to arrive at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort any moment from now.

    While the Changchun Yatai striker is in tip-top condition, the former Mainz defender is lacking match fitness but the good news is that he passed a traditional medical prior to his unveiling by The Seagulls on Tuesday.

    Oghenekaro Etebo, who was one of the last players to join the team on Tuesday evening, took part in full training this morning, amid concerns that he is struggling with a muscle injury.

    Brian Idowu, Shehu Abdullahi, John Obi Mikel, John Ogu, Victor Moses, Mikel Agu, Uche Agbo, Moses Simon, Simeon Nwankwo, Joel Obi and Ahmed Musa were still being awaited as at the time of this report.

    The Super Eagles trained for approximately one hour and forty minutes in their first workout on Wednesday, May 23.

  • Ighalo, Echiejile thank Nigerians

    Super Eagles’ duo of Jude Ighalo and left back Elderson Echiejile have called on Nigerian fans to keep supporting the team ahead of tonight’s International friendly game against Serbia.

    In a telephone interview, Ighalo appealed to Nigerian fans to keep the support coming for the team against Serbia.

    ”We appreciate Nigerians, their support has been immense, but we need more prayers, and their unending support. The fans support has really been great for the team,” Ighalo told Brila FM.

    Meanwhile, Elderson Echiejile also appreciated the fans for their support so far, while urging the supporters for more.

    ”Nigerians have been really fantastic with their support, and we are hoping to get more from them,” Echiejile stated.

    Elderson further reaffirmed his readiness to give his best to the team whenever called upon.

    ”Currently, we are happy things are positive, and we are working hard for things to be better in each game. And whenever I get called upon, I am always ready to give my best, even though we are playing a friendly game, it’s a time to test the players, and whenever called upon, I always give my best,” he added.

    While thanking Nigeria fans for their support, Echiejile said the team will continue to do well in a bid to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

    The Super Eagles will face Serbia after beating Poland on home soil in the second International friendly game in London today.

  • Amuneke tips Ighalo as joker against Cameroon

    Amuneke tips Ighalo as joker against Cameroon

    FORMER Nigerian international and 1994 African Footballer of the Year, Emmanuel Amuneke has told SportSTARng.com that the inclusion of  Odion Ighalo in the 23-man  Super Eagles’ list  to duel with Cameroon in a double header FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifier in September was  spot on.

    The Changchun Yatai FC striker was missing in action during the World Cup qualifier against Algeria and the Africa Cup qualifier against South Africa and has now been given a recall by Super Eagles technical manager, Gernot Rohr against Indomitable Lions.Speaking  exclusively to SportSTARng.com from his base in  Santander Spain, Amuneke said Ighalo who has been in excellent scoring form in the Chinese Super League  with 11 goals on the last count,  could be Super Eagles’ joker against the African Champions.

    “ I’m happy that Gernot Rohr  has brought back players like Ighalo for the matches against Cameroon because he is in good scoring form  in China,” Amuneke, scorer of match-winning goals when Nigeria won both the b1994 Africa Cup of Nations and 1996 Olympic Soccer Gold medal, told SportsSTARng.com

    “ The Indomitable Lions are not a small team and we need all our best players; and I think Ighalo is a good addition to the  Super Eagles  because he has the experience  and he’s in good scoring form,” he reasoned.

    Nigeria welcome the reigning African champions to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday, 1st September, before flying to Yaounde for a quick-fire return session on Monday, 4th September. The Super Eagles are top of Africa’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group B with six points, after wins over Zambia and Algeria in their first two matches, while the Lions lie second with only two points following 1-1 draws with Algeria and Zambia.

  • Ighalo begins full training

    Ighalo begins full training

    Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that former Watford striker Odion Ighalo is back in contention to be called up for the Super Eagles African Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa.

    The Changchun Yatai Marque signing had been on the sidelines for about two weeks after sustaining an ankle injury against Shanghai Shenhua in a Chinese Super League match.

    But the good news for manager Gernot Rohr and the Super Eagles’ faithful is that Ighalo started running two days ago and without any discomfort.

    The 27-year-old seems to be physically fine as he also participated in full training with his teammates at Changchun Yatai on Wednesday.

  • Chinese Super League Martins battle Ighalo

    Chinese Super League Martins battle Ighalo

    Former Inter Milan wonderkid Obafemi Martins is poised to make his first appearance of the new season for Shanghai Shenhua in their Chinese Super League tie at Changchun Yatai.

    Martins was not in the squad for the first four rounds but it is all but confirmed he’ll be in action on Saturday at the Development Area Stadium, with another marque signing Carlos Tevez unavailable due to injury.

    The Nigeria international was in the traveling party to the Jilin Province while the Argentinian stayed back in Shanghai to treat his leg muscle discomfort.

    Martins, who is Nigeria’s second best paid player, will face off with ex-Watford striker Odion Ighalo if he is handed playing time.

    The veteran striker caught the eye in pre-season and the highlight of his performance was netting a hat-trick in Shanghai Shenhua’s 5-0 rout of YSCC Yokohama.

  • Ighalo orphanage home to be opened December

    Ighalo orphanage home to be opened December

    DAYS after revealing his new charity venture, Super Eagles’ Odion Ighalo has told The Nation  that he would most likely open  his orphanage home  at the end of the Chinese Super League season in December.

    The 2017 Chinese  Super League would be the 14th since its establishment  and  Ighalo  is one of the  foreigners recruited by modest Changchun Yatai  and would reportedly earn a whopping £190,00 per week in wages.

    “You can see that my orphanage home is almost ready,” the Super Eagles’ striker said from his base in China.” Of course, a lot of my earning  would go into my charity stuff ; I have been doing that before and would do even more now.”

    The orphanage home called ‘Ighalo Orphanage Home’ is located at Kudeyindu Estate in Ijegun, Lagos and is 90% complete from the photos the former Watford striker shared on his Twitter and Instagram.

    Ighalo grew up in the ghetto of Ajegunle in Lagos and is very passionate about giving back to the society. I would most likely open the orphanage home in November or  December  after my season,”

    The former Watford striker, who reluctantly moved from the Premier League to Changchun Yatai for £20m on deadline day, who revealed the new venture on Instagram has in the meantime spoke  exclusively to The Nation about his adventure to China. Watch out.

  • Top Ten Highest Paid Nigerian players: Ighalo the richest

    Top Ten Highest Paid Nigerian players: Ighalo the richest

    • Martins 2nd, Mikel 3rd, Iheanacho 6th, Enyeama 9th

    It is a foregone conclusion that former Watford striker Odion Ighalo is the top earning Nigerian professional footballer, with guaranteed wages of more than €12.1 million per season.
    Allnigeriasoccer.com can exclusively report Martins’ reign as the best paid Nigerian player lasted less than one month after Ighalo joined Changchun Yatai F.C on a 4+1 year deal at the end of January.
    If agency commission is not included in the mix, the former Inter Milan and Newcastle frontman takes home €8.4 million in the new deal he signed with Shanghai Shenhua at the end of the 2016 season.
    Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel will pocket approximately €8.4 million gross in his first season with Tianjin Teda.
    The top four earning Nigerian players are all based in China, with Liaoning Whowin striker Anthony Ujah fourth on the list with a pay packet of €5.6 million per season.
    In his first season in China, the ex-Cologne and Werder Bremen star pocketed €4.7 million.
    Super Eagles assistant captain Ahmed Musa is Nigeria’s highest earner in England, with 70,000 pounds per week wages, 14,000 pounds more than Manchester City talent Kelechi Iheanacho.
    At 1 million euros wages per season, Trabzonspor midfielder Eddy Onazi is collecting three times his wages at Lazio but he is not the best paid Nigerian player in Turkey, with out-of-favour Fenerbahce striker Emmanuel Emenike earning €2.5 million.

  • Ighalo hints of Premiership return

    Ighalo hints of Premiership return

     

     

     

     

     

    Less than one month after moving to the Chinese Super League, Nigeria intentional and former Watford stiker Odion Ighalo has hinted he will he could return to the Premier league in the future

    Ighalo, 27, sealed a £20 million switch to the Chinese Super League on deadline day despite interest from other Premier League sides.

    “I am looking forward to the challenge of playing in China,” Ighalo said. “I know life goes on and I must do what is best for me. My agent, Ladi [Salami], worked hard of sorting my future out and I happy with the deal.

    “Of course, if it is possible to come back to the Premier League one day, I would love to do that. It is a great league with so many great teams and the fans are brilliant, so you never know what might happen in the future.”

    Ighalo joined Watford in 2014 after an initial loan spell and scored 39 goals in 100 appearances, finishing 2015 as the year’s top scorer across the top four divisions.

    “I have a lot of happy memories from time at Watford, helping them win promotion to the Premier League, scoring goals in the Premier League breaking a lot of records, so they are great memories for me,” he said.

    “The fans were great to me and I would like to thank them for their support, and I will miss Watford.”

    The former Udinese ace dismissed suggestions that his move to China was for the love of money, insisting that it was the desire to play more regularly.

    “I need to play more and I want to play every game and that was not happening at Watford this season,” he said.

    “Don’t get me wrong, the money is good in China, but I am going there to play. I have been in Europe now for 10 years and I think playing in China will be a good challenge for me so it was time to go.

    “I turned down bigger money last year to go to China, so it is not just about the money. I want to play and make a big effort to be successful.”