Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has finally confirmed his retirement from representing the Nigerian national team.
The 30-year-old Shanghai Greenland Shenhua striker said in an Instagram post on Saturday that he wants to concentrate on club football.
“This is one of the most difficult career decisions I have had to take. It’s been an amazing 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 a 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,” he wrote.
Ighalo almost quit Nigeria duty after last year’s World Cup following sharp criticism and even death threats, but was encouraged to stay on by Gernot Rohr, who Ighalo says stood by him “against all odds”.
He repaid in full Rohr’s faith in him, finishing top scorer in qualifying for the Nations Cup before his impressive showing in Egypt, which featured a standout display as Nigeria knocked out defending champions Cameroon in the last 16.
Ighalo scored twice and set up Alex Iwobi’s winner in a thrilling 3-2 win.
The former Watford man struck five times as the Super Eagles finished third in Egypt, bagging him the top scorer honours with two goals more than Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez and Cedric Bakambu.
In total Ighalo scored 16 goals for Nigeria in 35 appearances, and he also captained the country´s Under-20 team to the 2009 World Cup, also held in Egypt.
He becomes the second player after Mikel Obi to announces his retirement from the Super Eagles after the 2019 AFCON.
