Ighalo may return as Rohr finalises squad for Qatar 2022 qualifiers

Former Manchester United striker, Odion Ighalo, who quit the Super Eagles after the Egypt 2019 African Cup of Nations, may make a surprise return to the team.

Sources close to Super Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr, said that Ighalo, who now plays in Saudi Arabia for Al Shabab, is among the players being considered for Nigeria’s last group matches against Liberia and Cape Verde.
 
Officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Coach Rohr have not made secret of their desire to have the former Watford star back in the national team even when he insists he is done with international football.

Ighalo, a striker, was Nigeria’s top marksman at the Russia 2018 World Cup, where some pundits point at his misses as responsible for the country’s first round ouster.

Ighalo led the scoring chart at the Egypt 2019 African Cup of Nations, where Nigeria finished with the bronze medal.

Rohr has at his disposal some young and exciting strikers like Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Paul Onuachu and Taiwo Awoniyi, but the German, according to sources, wants the experienced Ighalo to guide the young squad to the final round of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

NFF is expected to release the list of players for the games against Liberia and Cape Verde this weekend.

The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Liberia’s Lone Star in their adopted home of Morocco on November 11 and then host Cape Verde on November 14.

Liberia will play their home games in Morocco following CAF’s decision to maintain the ban on the Samuel Kenyon Doe Sports Stadium as the facility still does not fully meet the set stadium minimum requirements.

The Eagles lead Group C with nine points from four matches, two points better than the Crocodiles of Cape Verde, who they host on November 14.