This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
Odion Ighalo, the 30-year-old Super Eagles striker, has announced his retirement from international football, citing constant abuse from Nigerians as the reason.
According to ESPN, Ighalo had informed the coach of his decision before the third-place match at AFCON 2019, where he scored his fifth goal of the tournament.
Although he did not announce his retirement on any platform, sources close to the team revealed that he had been subjected to heavy abuse from Nigerians, which had taken a toll on his young family.
Following Nigeria's early ouster from FIFA World Cup in Russia last year, Ighalo was seriously abused by football fans, with many blaming him for the defeat to Argentina in their final group game.
His failure to find the back of the net against Madagascar re-opened the wounds, and he was eventually forced to leave the national team due to the constant abuse.
Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr expressed his sadness over Ighalo's decision, stating that the door was always open for him to return to the team.
Ighalo made his Super Eagles debut in 2015 and went on to score 16 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions.
He could have won the AFCON 2019 golden boots award after leading the chart with five goals and one assist, but Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez, Adam Ounas, and one other star all had three goals and were still in the running for the award.
With Ighalo's retirement, the search for his replacement will commence immediately, with coach Rohr hinting that the position is open for youngsters playing regularly for their clubs.
