Football is a fun sport to watch because of the criticisms. The temptation of analysis is enormous, and every football fan knows something about a player that he doesn't know. It's hard to believe. And some of the conclusions reached are so well-crafted that it's easy to lose track of the facts.
Ighalo, one of Nigeria's top strikers in recent years, has divided opinion on his value to the Super Eagles twice in the last three months. Some people have objected to his moniker because of his lack of quality, which is ridiculous given what Nigeria has at the time.
In Nigeria's attack, Victor Osimhen is the undisputed champion. He has a combination of attacking attributes that places him at the top of Nigeria's attacking rhetoric. He is young, strong, swift, and effervescent. Osimhen wasn't at this level three years ago. In a manner characteristic of history, he played understudy to a man whom Nigerians appear to despise greatly.
Nigerians prefer who they like, and convincing them differently will take a lot of convincing. It's a done thing if the Super Eagles' supporters don't appreciate you or if you offer them a moment or memory to remember. If you have the wind in your sails, you'll be accused of arrogance.
The qualifications for the 2019 AFCON may have struck a nerve with the attacker, triggering something before unseen. He was the leading scorer in the qualifications with seven goals, and if it was a fluke, he made a statement in the tournament as well, scoring five goals.
He scored 12 goals for the Super Eagles between the 2019 AFCON qualifications and the tournament proper, three times more than he did in his first four years with the national team. Since then, Ighalo has been on the rise.
Some Super Eagles fans encouraged the coaching staff to look away from Ighalo ahead of the 2021 AFCON, which was hosted this year in Cameroon.
Many have attacked interim technical adviser Austine Eguavoen's decision to include him in the squad, but Ighalo is unconcerned.
He told ESPN, "I don't pay attention to that."
"I've been called up; I'll pack my belongings and head out to represent my country, giving it my all."
"As long as I leave every game satisfied with my performance, whether it's a victory, a loss, or a draw, that's all that matters." I work as a professional football player. Why should I be concerned about what others say when this is what I've been doing for the past 17-18 years?"
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