The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ighalo

  • Ighalo hits 14th goal

    Ighalo hits 14th goal

    • Ends 2015 as highest goal scorer in England with 30 goals

    Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo continued his scoring spree in the English premiership on Monday, grabbing a 41st minute goal to which almost saw the homers picking a vital point at the Vicarage Road.

    The visitors had shot into the lead as early as the 17th minute in the highly temperamental match thanks to Argentine import Erik Lamena after enjoying an assist from teammate Harry kane. But the jubilation lasted for only 24 minutes before Ighalo spoiled the party following assistance from homeboy Troy

    Deeney. Monday’s strike marks Ighalo’s 14th goal this season and 30th in total for 2015.

    Although Watford maintained a less than average possession 43% to the visitor’s 57%, Ighalo and his teammates refused to give up to the 87th minute leaving the shoreline at 1-1.

    Tottenham’s fight to the finish posture in the match however paid off to the disappointment of Watford and their vociferous fans when South Korean import Heung-Min Son found the net in the 89th minute. The additional four minutes added by the centre referee failed to Anthony Tailor failed to provide a platform for Ighalo and his teammates to turn the table.

  • Ighalo: We want to keep going

    Ighalo: We want to keep going

    Odion Ighalo scored twice to down Liverpool and thereafter said Watford just wish to keep going in the English Premier League.

    Ighalo,26, has now netted 12 goals in his debut season in the EPL, just three shy of leading scorer Jamie Vardy, as his goals in the 15th and 85th minutes ensured a fourth straight win for modest Watford.

    Watford remain seventh on the league table with 28 points from 17 games.

    “We want to keep going. It was again an all-round team performance from start to finish against Liverpool,” declared Ighalo.

    “The first goal was down to all round team performance right from the first minute. The coach (Quique Sanchez Flores) told us before the game that we had to go out there and play without fear.

    “He said Liverpool would be the ones to fear us as we were coming into the game on the back of three straight wins. It motivated us and we are very happy that we won the game. It was a good thing that I scored but it was really all about the team’s performance from start to finish,” he told SkySports after the game.

    Man of the match and Watford skipper Troy Deeney further praised the Nigeria striker.

    “This man is on fire! He is so strong and so quick,” he saluted his strike partner.

  • Ighalo scores 12th goal of the season

    Ighalo scores 12th goal of the season

    Nigerian international, Odion Ighalo was in blistering form for Watford at the weekend as he guided the Hornets to a comprehensive 3-0 win against Liverpool.

    The 26-year-old scored twice in the encounter to take his tally for the 2015/16 season to 12 in 17 premier league appearances to hand Liverpool their heaviest league defeat against a promoted side since losing 3-0 to Newcastle United in November back in 1993.

    Watford got on the front foot early on as Nathan Ake capitalised on an error from Liverpool keeper, Adam Bogdan to poke home the opening goal of the game inside the first three minutes.

    Hornets Captain Troy Deeney continued his brilliant partnership with Odion Ighalo as he set up the Nigerian for Watford’s second goal before the Nigerian completed his brace with a well timed header five minutes from time and was substituted by Adlene Guedioura afterwards to a rapturous applaud by the home fans.

    ‘It was a very good team performance,’ Ighalo said after the game. ‘From the very first minute, you can see the way we got the first goal. It’s been good and we’ve been working hard together.

    ‘I can remember what Troy said before the game – we don’t have to fear them because we are playing at home. They are the ones who are going to be afraid of us because we went into the game at the back of three wins and they need the win. I am happy I got the goals but it was a team performance from the start to finish.’

    The Nigerian also talked about his partnership with Troy Deeney, especially after the captain’s assist for his first goal, he said: ‘When I saw him with the ball, I just ran behind the defender. It’s nothing we practiced in training, it is all about the connection we have between us.’

    Watford’s win at Vicarage Road was their first win over Liverpool since 1986 and takes them to seventh on the Premier League log with 28 points.

  • Amaju, Okocha Ighalo for Edo FA Award

    Amaju, Okocha Ighalo for Edo FA Award

    History will be made on Friday, December 18 when the Edo Football Association will hold its maiden  award  night.

    Expected to grace the occasion are NFF President Amaju Pinnick, former super Eagles captain Austin J.J. Okocha, Dr Rafiu Ladipo ….President General, Nigeria Football Supporters Club,  Watford of England striker Odion Ighalo and a host of others..

    The event, which will hold at the Oba Akenzua  cultural centre  is in conjunction with the Emmanuel Usoh  Foundation.

    According to the Chairman of Edo Football Association, Frank Ilaboya, the aim of the award night is to celebrate Edo indegines that have in one way or the other contributed to the growth and development of football in the state and beyond.

    Some of those to be given awards are Watford of England striker Odion Ighalo.

    Chile 2015 U -17 FIFA World Cup winner, Victor Osimen will lead three other U-17 World Cup winners from Edo State to receive awards.

    Other awards include best home-based player in men and women category, coaches, referees, administrators etc.

     

  • Ighalo dedicates goal to Kate Keshi

    Ighalo dedicates goal to Kate Keshi

    Watford striker, Odion Jude Ighalo has told SportingLife that after God that has kept him in top shape, he is dedicating his 10th goal in the EPL to the memory of Stephen Keshi’s late wife, Kate and the victorious Dream Team VI.

    Ighalo, the Super Eagles striker, plundered home his 10th goal of the season for Watford in the fourth minute of their 1-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in only 16 premier league matches in his first season in the EPL.

    The former Granada (Spain) and Udinese( Italy) forward told SportingLife from England yesterday that he was more than elated to score the only goal of the match which fetched Watford another victory in the league on Saturday.

    He said the tie at the Stadium of Light was a very tough one but that they were fortunate to record the solitary goal of the tie quite early in the match and had to do everything possible to defend the lead till the end of the game.

    A sober Ighalo told SportingLife that it was with heavy heart he got the news of the death of Keshi’s wife, Kate and that he has not recovered from the shock.

    He prayed for the repose of her life and has decided to dedicate the goal against Sunderland to her loving memory and he has also admonished the Big Boss to take heart and strive to keep the family strong at this time of trial.

    Ighalo told SportingLife: “I am happy with the goal I got against Sunderland. It was such a tough game but we were able to hold on to get the three points.

    “… I will say I’m still in a state of shock hearing about the death of former Eagles’ coach’s wife, Kate Keshi. The Big Boss gave me the breakthrough in the senior national team and the death of his dear wife has made me  grieve too.

    “I have decided to dedicate the goal and the win to her loving memory besides God that has made me to be in fine shape and injury free.”

    The former U-23 captain has also dedicated his 10th league goal from 16 games to the Dream Team VI under the tutelage of Samson Siasia after the team beat Algeria 2-1 in Senegal in the final of the just concluded CAF U-23 AFCON.

  • Deeney and I can keep Watford up – Ighalo

    Deeney and I can keep Watford up – Ighalo

    Nigeria international Odion Ighalo has said he believes being fit alongside strike partner Troy Deeney will keep Watford afloat in the EPL this season.

    The former Udinese striker reckoned his blossoming partnership with the team captain is one of the reasons for the club’s performance.

    The two strikers have 14 goals between them this season, Ighalo with nine goals and Deeney with five goals as both scored 41 goals last season to take the team up to EPL.

    “We played with each other in the Championship last season and we were great. I scored 20 and he scored 21. We’ve been working hard every day and I know we’ve been causing defenders serious problems. We know if we keep fit and doing this we’ll stay up,” he told London Evening Express.

    “The coach is giving me belief and he is happy with the work-rate I am putting into the game.

    “I’ve scored nine now but I don’t want to stop there. I want to keep on working hard and scoring goals.”

  • I turned down ‘Crazy Money’ to remain with Watford – Ighalo

    I turned down ‘Crazy Money’ to remain with Watford – Ighalo

    Nigeria and Watford FC Striker, Odion Ighalo has revealed he had sleepless nights weighing up a lucrative move to the Chinese Premier League.

    The 27-year-old has struck eight times this season for the Hornets with the latest coming against Aston Villa over the weekend.

    Ighalo told footballlive.ng that he considered a move to the Asia country but became restless for three  nights while contemplating the move which he eventually turned down.

    ‘I got a big money offer to join a Chinese team. But I don’t think everything has to come down to money.

    ‘I may not be as wealthy as Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi but I’ve worked hard for this team and this is my dream. The club sent their representatives and they met with our Directors in London. I couldn’t sleep for three days but knowing how I helped the team gain qualification from the championship I could not leave,”he said.

  • Ighalo relishes eighth goal of the season

    Ighalo relishes eighth goal of the season

    Super Eagles’ striker, Odion Jude Ighalo has asserted that Watford’s 3-2 away win at Villa Park was very important and crucial in their own bold desire to stay up in the elite division beyond this season.

    Ighalo struck first for Watford in the 17th minute before his team-mate Troy Deeney in the 85th minute to restore Watford’s two goal cushion. Alan Hutton had in the 69th minute netted an own goal for the Vicarage Road side’s second goal.

    The Eagles’ forward told SportingLife that he is elated to have added another goal to his tally and that getting a win was the priority.

    “It was a good win for us and I want to say that the victory against one of our rivals in the battle for relegation was a morale booster and that getting among the goals was very special.”

    Ighalo also spoke about his wife, Sonia, who is the mother of his

    three children and how their union of six years has made him a better person. Ighalo has eight goals in his first season in the EPL with Watford.

  • Ighalo pleased with goals rush

    Ighalo pleased with goals rush

    Odion Ighalo has voiced his pleasure at netting the brace which helped Watford overcome West Ham United 2-0 in the Barclays English Premier League last Saturday.

    Ighalo’s double means that he has now scored seven league goals this season.

    He has also scored 70% of Watford’s league goals this season and states that helping his side win matches is more important than achieving personal glory.

    “I’m happy about my goals, but I’m most pleased about the team’s performance. We played very well and we deserved the win and the three points,” Ighalo told Hornets PlayerHD.

    Ighalo’s teammate, Ben Watson also had words of praise for the Super Eagles man who is fast cementing his place in the history of the club.

    No one has scored more Premier League goals than the Nigerian in the club’s 134-year-old history and Watson says Ighalo can always be relied upon to deliver the goods.

    “We had created chances (against West Ham United), and if we didn’t score it would have been very disappointing. Maybe that’s been the case at home, as we probably haven’t scored as many goals as we would like. But you can always rely on Ighalo to get you a goal,” said Watson.

  • Ighalo won’t quit for bigger club

    Ighalo won’t quit for bigger club

    Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores has said he does not fear star striker Odion Ighalo will move to a bigger club in January.

    The 26-year-old Nigeria international has scored five times this term, which has taken his tally for the calendar year to 25, the highest in England in 2015.

    Ighalo, who was nominated for September’s Player of the Month prize, turned down a big-money move to China over the summer, and signed a five-year deal to remain at Vicarage Road earlier this season.

    His form may attract interest from bigger teams when the transfer window opens in January if his goal scoring continues.

    “I’m not scared about Ighalo. I’m happy with him and not thinking about what might happen in the winter market. He had the chance to go out in the summer but decided to stay here and that was an amazing decision,” said the Watford manager.

    “When a player plays well, the value changes to buy him. But we now think Ighalo is our most important player, he is very happy and can play in different positions.”