June 23, (THEWILL) – Former Al-Hilal striker, Odion Ighalo, has revealed that two of the most challenging moments in his international career were Nigeria’s elimination from the 2018 World Cup and their failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Speaking recently, Ighalo expressed his disappointment with his performance in the crucial group stage match against Argentina during the 2018 World Cup, where he missed a couple of chances that contributed to Nigeria’s exit from the tournament.
The aftermath of the team’s elimination saw Ighalo subjected to intense criticism and abuse from Nigerian supporters. Additionally, Ighalo highlighted the Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup as another painful experience for him.
Ighalo retired from international football following the Super Eagles’ participation at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria secured a bronze medal. The tournament also brought personal triumph for Ighalo as he clinched the Golden Boot, becoming the top scorer of the competition.
However, the memories of the 2018 World Cup and the 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs against Ghana left a lasting impact on the 34-year-old striker, who reflected on the intense backlash he received from Nigerian fans after the team’s premature exit from the tournament and the disappointment of failing to secure a spot in the 2022 World Cup.
Ighalo said: “The two worst experiences I had with the Super Eagles was the game against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup when I missed a chance and the whole of Nigeria wanted to bury me alive. Also, the last World Cup, which we did not qualify for, was another bad time for me.”
Despite the challenges and criticisms he faced during his international career, Ighalo’s contributions to the Nigerian team cannot be undermined, particularly his remarkable performance in helping the Super Eagles achieve success at the 2019 AFCON.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
