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AFCON title more important to me than highest goals award, says Ighalo

By Gowon Akpodonor, Cairo, Egypt
10 July 2019   |   3:18 am
One of the leading goal scorers in the on-going Egypt 2019 AFCON, Super Eagles’ Odion Ighalo says his more concerned with leading Nigeria to win the title than the highest goals scorers’ award.   China-based Ighalo is among the leading scorers. The others are Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Cedrit Bekambu and Adam Oane with three…

Nigeria’s forward Odion Ighalo celebrates his goal during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Round of 16 football match between Nigeria and Cameroon at the Alexandria Stadium in the Egyptian city on July 6, 2019. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)

One of the leading goal scorers in the on-going Egypt 2019 AFCON, Super Eagles’ Odion Ighalo says his more concerned with leading Nigeria to win the title than the highest goals scorers’ award.
 
China-based Ighalo is among the leading scorers. The others are Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Cedrit Bekambu and Adam Oane with three goals. He said yesterday that winning the AFCON title was more important than pursuing an individual award.
 
Ighalo scored Super Eagles’ winning goal in their first group match against Burundi, and got a brace in the round of 16 clash with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

 
The Super Eagles will face the Bafana Bafana of South Africa this evening in Cairo to determine who pick the quarterfinal ticket.
 
Ighalo stated that he would do everything possible to shoot down the South Africans in today’s make or mar tie. “I can say we are ready for the game against South Africa. If I am selected to play, I will give my best, and make sure we come out victorious against South Africa.”
 
Nigeria suffered a shock 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the first leg of the 2019 AFCON qualifier in Uyo and played a 1-1 draw in the return leg.
 
Ighalo, who is needed badly by his Chinese club in Shanghai, said that though the South Africans are good, the Super Eagles have what it takes to take care of them in today’s encounter.

Meanwhile, the coach of Bafana Bafana, Stuart Baxter says his side would send the Super Eagles packing from the competition tonight.
 
“The Super Eagles have good attackers, but we will come up with a strategy they would not be able to understand. Our target is to win this competition, but first we have to beat Nigeria tomorrow (today).”

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