CAF POTY award: Ighalo reacts after nomination, confirms EPL offers
Ex-Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo said his nomination for the CAF African Player of the Year award and reaching the top 10 nominees remains a “privilege”.
The former Nigeria international was the top goalscorer at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt and was shortlisted alongside the trio of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez due to his exploits with Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
Speaking on his nomination for the prestigious award, the China-based forward noted that the recognition coming after a disappointing World Cup in Russia after 12 months ago, is an honour.
“It’s a privilege to be in the top 10. If anybody had told me five years ago or even this year that I would be here it’ll be hard to conceive.
“Remember at the World Cup most people wrote me off, but to be in the top 10 or even top 20 is a privilege and I feel hugely honoured and grateful to God,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ighalo isn’t ruling out the possibility of returning to the Premier League at the end of his contract with Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.
Your African Player of the Year Nominees 🌍🏅
Who'll win the prestigious award? 🏆 #CAFAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/vRhPh3IAz7
— CAF (@CAF_Online) November 24, 2019
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“There are always speculations about me, and truly I have offers from the Premier League, but I also have a two-year contract with Shanghai and am happy here.
“The Premier League is the best in the World and of course I would love to go back, with Watford or any other team it could happen, but I have a contract with Shanghai and we’ll see how it goes,” submitted Ighalo.