Former Super Eagles forward and 2019 Africa Cup of Nation highest goal scorer, Odion Ighalo, has announced his retirement from international football following Nigeria’s exit from the just concluded continental event.
The player said he made the decision to call time with the Eagles to focus more on his club and family.
The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, was said to have called up the player to plead with him to rescind his decision to leave the Eagles.
However, the player has refuted the rumours, stating that his deacon is final and there is no going back from it.
“The (NFF) president spoke to me and asked me to reconsider. Out of respect for him, I said I would think about it. I consulted with my family and we decided that the best thing for me now is to stand by the decision.
“I love my country and it was not an easy decision to make. But I believe the time is right. I am now out for eight weeks and my club are not happy about it, but I thank God for everything.” “You always dream of playing for Nigeria as a boy and luckily I managed to do it from the under 20s to to the senior side.
“But you only need to take the time to reflect and tell yourself the truth, even though it was the hardest decision to make in my life as a footballer, I think it is the right one.”
— Ighalo (quoted by ColinUdoh.com)
Ighalo has 16 goals in 35 appearances for the Super Eagles since he made his debut in March 2015.
Sources:
Vanguard NGR
Colin Udoh