Nwankwo Kanu: Nigeria need Odion Ighalo

Manchester United's Odion Ighalo during a training session at the Aon Training Complex, Manchester. Photo credit: Martin Rickett/PA Wire

by Helder Ribiero

Tuesday Mar 10, 2020. 14:00

Nigerian legend Nwankwo Kanu has called for Odion Ighalo to come out of international retirement and feature for the Super Eagles once again.

Ighalo called time on his career with the national team following the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where he was top scorer with five goals and helped Nigeria claim the bronze medals.

The 30-year-old has since joined Manchester United on loan for the remainder of the 2019/20 season – a move which was initially scoffed at, but he has silenced critics with a return of three goals in seven appearances.

And Kanu believes that Ighalo’s form warrants a return to the Nigerian national team, especially with key qualifiers for the 2021 AFCON and 2022 World Cup between now and the end of the year.

“Nigeria needs every good player no matter where they are playing or their age,” Kanu told Goal.

“If he performs in Manchester United, we will ask him to come back and tell him to forget what he said.

“This is football and we have to watch and see how the situation would unfold. Not just Ighalo, Nigeria need whoever is in form.”

Ighalo will look to add to his goal tally for the Red Devils when they play Austrian side LASK in their next UEFA Europa League clash on Thursday evening.