2019 AFCON Golden Boot Winner, Ighalo Quits Super Eagles

Former Watford of England goal poacher, Odion Ighalo, has finally confirmed his decision to bid farewell to the Super Eagles and focus attention fully on club football

Ighalo officially announced his retirement from international football shortly after winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Golden Boot in Egypt.

The 30-year-old, who currently plies his trade in China with Shanghai Shenhua, carted home the top scorer’s prize in Egypt on Friday after scoring five goals in seven appearances for the Super Eagles.

He started his career as a youth player in the Under-20 team and later made his senior debut during an international friendly match against Uganda in March 2015.

After playing 35 matches and scoring 16 goals, which ranks him as the seventh all-time highest goal scorer in the national team history, the 30-year-old said he took the decision to bow out for younger ones to ‘learn and grow’.

“This is one of the most difficult career decisions I have had to take. It’s been an amazing five (5) years journey, but after due consultation and extensive discussion with my family I have decided it’s time for me to retire from the national team,” Ighalo wrote on Instagram.

According to Ighalo, who also has a stint with Granada in the Spanish La liga; “It has been an eventful and most memorable opportunity to serve my country with pride, passion and to contribute my quota to the development of our football, the memories would stay with me for a long time and I’m immensely grateful.

“It is now time to concentrate on club football and give the younger players the chance to learn and grow. I would love to thank the NFF, Coach Gernot Rohr for believing in me against all odds, to my teammates for their professionalism and team spirit, without you guys I wouldn’t have achieved so much with this team.

“To Nigerian football fans all over the world, I say thank you, you were always there to cheer us on and our 12th player every time we step onto the pitch. I will be watching and cheering the Super Eagles from this side. Thank you… Signing out!”

Ighalo is currently injured but will shift his attention to helping Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League, where he scored seven goals in nine league outings before joining forces with the Super Eagles’ AFCON train for the Egypt carnival.

The Shanghai outfit is placed 13th in the Chinese top flight league with just few points clear of the drop zone

The full post shared by Odion Jude Ighalo (@ighalojude) on Jul 19, 2019 at 6:02pm on Instagram, said; “This is one of the most difficult career decisions I have had to take. It’s been an amazing five (5) years journey, but after due consultation and extensive discussion with my family, I have decided it’s time for me to retire from the National team. It’s has been an eventful and most memorable opportunity to serve my country with pride, passion and to contribute my quota to the development of our football. The memories would stay with me for a long time and I’m immensely grateful. It is now time to concentrate on Club football and give the younger players chance to learn and grow. I would love to thank the NFF, Coach Gernot Rohr for believing in me against all odds. To my teammates for their professionalism and team spirit without you guys I wouldn’t have achieved so much with this team. To NIGERIAN football fans all over the world, I SAY THANK YOU; you were always there to cheer us on and our 12th players every time we step into the pitch. I will be watching and cheering the SUPER EAGLES from this side. THANK YOU…..signing OUT ✍  – Goal.com