The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Odion Ighalo

  • Moses, Ighalo listed for EPL award

    Moses, Ighalo listed for EPL award

    Nigeria stars Victor Moses and Odion Ighalo are among five players nominated for the September edition of the English Premier League’s African Player of the Month.

    “Africans hit the ground running in the Premier League in August, and although Andre Ayew won it, many performances by Africans were worthy of note and mention. This month has not been different,” africanFootball.com quoted the awards director, Tunde Adelakun, as saying on Tuesday.

    Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez from Algeria makes a return to the top performers chart this month.

    Joining Mahrez, who has netted five goals this season, only bettered by his club mate Jamie Vardy, are Moses, Ighalo, Sebastian Bassong from Norwich and Mame Biram Diouf from Stoke City.

    “We have a shortlist of five players this month, because we have not been able to separate our players in terms of brilliance this month. The standard has been that high,” Adelakun added.

    The statement goes on to applaud the impact of all Africans in the Leagues worldwide this far, stating that “if our guys continue this way, and can take this kind of form into international football, Africa should be world beaters in football very soon.”

  • Watford’s survival is top priority – Ighalo

    Watford’s survival is top priority – Ighalo

    Watford striker, Odion Ighalo, has said his club survival in the English Premier League will be his major priority this season.

    Ighalo has scored four goals to emerge as one of the leading scorers in the EPL this season.

    “I don’t have a goals’ target as long as my team win, that’s the most important thing. I don’t care who scores,” Ighalo told africanFootball.com.

    “It will be great to end up as top scorer in the EPL, but I’m not thinking about that. I just want to take it game after game and help my team win.

    “The only secret I have is God, I feel great with my performance so far and my goals. But I’m not getting carried away. I want to keep working hard and learning every day.”

     

  • AFCON ticket within Eagles’ reach – Ighalo

    AFCON ticket within Eagles’ reach – Ighalo

    Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has said the 2017 African Nations Cup ticket is still within the reach of the three-time African champions.

    Nigeria lies second in its qualifying group, two points behind leaders Egypt after two rounds of matches, africanFootball.com reports.

    Both countries will clash home and away in March next year.

    Ighalo, who is among the 24 players called up by Sunday Oliseh for next month’s friendlies against Cameroon and Congo, admitted it’s a tight situation but the Nigerians still have their destiny in their hands.

    “The 2017 AFCON ticket is within our reach, this is football and you can never say. We still have to play the group leaders Egypt home and away. Those matches are of great importance to our ambition,” he told africanFootball.com.

    “I think we have chance to grab the ticket as the group leaders, although it is a bit difficult, but by God’s grace and hard work, we will qualify.”

     

  • Enyeama, Mikel recalled for Eagles’ friendlies

    Enyeama, Mikel recalled for Eagles’ friendlies

    Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has called up 24 players for next month’s international friendlies with Congo and Cameroon.

    Enyeama missed out on Nigeria’s last two fixtures against Tanzania and Niger Republic, supersport.com reports.

    The Lille OSC goalkeeper was bereaved following the death of his mother and asked to be excused from both games.

    He will now return to captain the three-time African champions in the fixtures against Congo and Cameroun in Belgium.

    The squad:

    Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Femi Thomas (Enyimba FC).

    Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Troost Ekong (FK Haugesund, Norway); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa SK, Turkey); Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors).

    Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); Obiora Nwankwo (Coimbra FC, Portugal); John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia).

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Al Ain, UAE); Sylvester Igbonu (FC UFA, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (West Ham United, England); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars).

  • Anichebe hails Iheanacho, Ighalo’s performance

    Anichebe hails Iheanacho, Ighalo’s performance

    West Bromwich Albion striker, Victor Anichebe, has hailed Manchester City starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho, after the teenager opened his account for the English Premier League side on Saturday.

    The former Everton striker also had kind words for Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, whose 59th minute strike against Swansea City secured three points for Watford also on Saturday.

    Compared to Iheanacho who scored his first goal in the EPL aged 18 years, 11 months and nine days, Anichebe remains the youngest Nigerian player to score in the top flight, scoring after 84 minutes in Everton’s 2 – 2 draw with his current club at the age of 18 years and 14 days in May 2006.

    “Big congrats to Kelechi on your first senior goal and Ighalo Jude on another goal. Future looking bright for Nigeria,” allnigeriasoccer.com quoted Anichebe as saying on social media.

     

  • Ighalo signs new Watford deal

    Ighalo signs new Watford deal

    Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has signed a new five-year deal with English Premier League club Watford.

    This new deal shows how much Watford value Ighalo especially after helping the “Hornets” to secure promotion to the EPL at the end of last season, africanFootball.co reports.

    He joined Watford in October last year after he was released by Udinese.

    He has scored one goal in four EPL appearances this season.

     

  • I will get Eagles’ recall – Ighalo

    I will get Eagles’ recall – Ighalo

    Watford striker Odion Ighalo has insisted his spirit is not dampened by his omission from the Super Eagles’ list to face Tanzania next month, saying he plans to work harder to earn a recall to the team.

    Coach Sunday Oliseh omitted the 26-year-old from his 18-man foreign-based list for the crucial encounter, Goal reports.

    The former Udinese striker said his omission would afford him the opportunity to continue working for his team to ensure he makes the list in future.

    Ighalo praised the decision of Oliseh to come out in the open and disclose that he still has a future in the Eagles despite his omission from the latest squad.

    “I will say I am satisfied with the fact that I will keep on working hard on doing my best for my club which I hope will earn me a recall to the Eagles’ fold. I cannot fault his decisions because he is the boss,” the striker told Goal.

  • Oliseh defends Ighalo’s omission from Eagles squad

    Oliseh defends Ighalo’s omission from Eagles squad

    Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has insisted he cannot call up all the country’s top stars at once and asked Watford striker Odion Ighalo to wait for his turn in the team.

    Ighalo was a major omission from an 18-man list of foreign-based players invited by Oliseh for next month’s African Nations Cup qualifier in Tanzania, africanFootball.com reports.

    Ighalo scored his first Eagles goal in a 2-0 home win over Chad in June AFCON qualifier and he got off to a flying start in the English Premier League with a goal on the opening day of the season.

    “We can only play 11 players at once. We have two other strikers we want to try out,” africanFootball.com quoted the Super Eagles coach as saying in response to questions over Ighalo’s exclusion.

    Russia-based Sylvester Igboun and Esperance striker Emem Eduok have been considered ahead of the former Flying Eagles skipper.

    Ighalo told africanFootball.com he was disappointed not be called up, but hopes to continue working hard at his English club.

    Oliseh also restated his resolve to adopt “a winning style of play.”

    “We are starting from the scratch, but with time I hope for a winning style of play,” he promised.

  • Ighalo rejects ‘staggering’ Chinese offer

    Ighalo rejects ‘staggering’ Chinese offer

    Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has turned down a bid by Chinese club Hebei China Fortune to land him for a fee of £10 million this summer.

    The former Granada hit man told africanFootball.com he won’t leave England for China as he has lot to offer in the English Premier League and that he is young for such move.

    “My club informed me of interest from a Chinese team to sign me. I will not leave England for China now at my age. I still got a lot to offer here in England,” he said.

    “My career progress is my priority now and not money. I am sure by his grace I can get that money here if I keep doing well.”

    However, the former Flying Eagles skipper said he appreciates interest in him from several clubs.

    “The interest in me from clubs is good, it is normal when a striker is doing well, it’s as a result of hard work and God’s favour,” he told africanFootball.com

    The former Granada forward scored 20 goals in 39 games to help Watford win promotion to the EPL.

  • Ighalo on target as Watford go top

    Ighalo on target as Watford go top

    Super Eagles forward, Odion Ighalo, was on target for Watford, as they defeated Middlesbrough 2-0 to go top of the English Championship standings.

    The first among many Easter Monday games in the Championship, saw Watford open scoring through Ighalo’s strike partner Troy Deeney.

    25-year-old Ighalo, who scored in the team’s weekend game with 16 minutes left to play, scored his 19th goal of the season but his side’s second of the game to take the scores to 2-0.

    The victory moved Watford ahead of Middlesbrough, although Ighalo’s side might still lose top spot depending on results elsewhere in the English Championship later in the day.

    While Ighalo scored and continues to aid Watford’s push for promotion to the English Premier League, his Nigerian compatriot at Middlesbrough, Kenneth Omeruo wasn’t listed by his side.

    Omeruo’s absence might be connected with the groin injury he picked up while on duty with Nigeria, although Boro claimed he has recovered.

    Since the turn of the year the on-loan Chelsea defender has struggled to hold down a spot in the Boro side, a far cry from his loan spell there last season.