Odion Ighalo’s sensational recall to the Super Eagles from retirement has been widely criticised.
Ighalo, 32, has been called up for forthcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde after he quit international football two years ago.
Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has said the team still need him for his leadership, experience and goals.
“(Victor) Osimhen is our No 1 striker, but there is none like Ighalo, he’s a special player, he smells football,” Rohr said.
“He also has the ambition to help his country.
“He could also help us much more.”
However, fans, journalists and former internationals have disagreed with many of them arguing that there are younger strikers doing well in Europe currently.
Former international Mutiu Adepoju said he does not see the need for the return of Ighalo as there are several younger strikers also scoring goals now.
“I like Ighalo as a player, he is a very good striker. He retired from the Super Eagles two years ago, so if he is recalled to do what the strikers in the team are doing well,” he argued.
“We have Osimhen scoring very well for his club, we have Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi and so many of them.
“If we have players who are doing very well and scoring goals in their clubs, do we still have to recall Ighalo?”
“We have a host of 22-24-year-old strikers doing the business in Top 5 Leagues, but we still called up a 33-year-old Ighalo because he is scoring goals in Saudi Arabia…”, wondered @okparaonline on Twitter
“This obsession with recalling Ighalo to the Super Eagles defies all logic sha,” said journalist Nurudeen Obalola.
“What does he offer now that Osimhen, Onuachu, Awoniyi, Iheanacho etc don’t?
“I like Ighalo and I hope he doesn’t turn up.”
@kelvinamata tweeted: “Me I am not laughing o! (Amaju) Pinnick (NFF president) and Rohr need to be called to order. They are destroying the team.”
He added, “Dear long-suffering Nigerian @NGSuperEagles followers, Rohr and @pinnickAmaju stick with only what they know no matter the very glaring need to shake up things.
“Don’t worry, the day will come when a visionary @thenff president will return the team to its true owners – you!”
“Nigeria have one of the best crops of centre-forwards in the world, let alone Africa, and they’re asking a 32-year-old Odion Ighalo to come out of retirement instead of giving chances to younger options like Terem Moffi or Taiwo Awoniyi. Words fail me,” said Zach Lowy, a keen follower of Nigeria football.
