Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has finally broken his silence on his retirement from international football.
There were rumours that Ighalo decided to call it quits, after the heckling he and his family received from football fans, since Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to Argentina at the 2018 World Cup.
Ighalo missed two chances to score in the final group fixture, as the Eagles failed to make it into the Round of 16 in Russia.
Writing on Instagram on Friday night, the Shanghai Shenhua striker admitted he consulted with his family, before deciding to retire.
“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 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 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.
“To Nigerian football fans all over the world, I say thank you, you were always there to cheer us on and our 12th player every time we step onto the pitch. I will be watching and cheering the Super Eagles from this side. Thank you… Signing out,” he wrote.
The 30-year-old signs out on a high, after winning the Golden Boot at the just concluded 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with five goals.
Ighalo played 35 games for Nigeria in total and netted 16 times.
He ranks as the seventh all-time highest goalscorer in the national team history.
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