Odion Ighalo has revealed how devastated he is to miss Nigeria’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa after looking forward to the game. The Nigerian who is the highest scorer in the Afcon qualifiers with six goals has been ruled out for five weeks.
“I was devastated and sad throughout the night because I have planned for and was waiting for this game,” he said.
“We were all very upset that we lost that first game and everybody wants to play the game to make amends, but God knows best,” he told KweseESPN.
A scan on Thursday morning showed that the Super Eagles striker suffered a torn hamstring that has ended his season with Chinese club Changchun Yatai.
South Africa defeated the Eagles 2-0 in the opening game of the qualifiers last year in Nigeria, their first competitive victory
The player said he however believed the team would finish the job in Johannesburg and go on to qualify for the tournament next year.
“I can’t travel right now, unfortunately. But I believe in the boys and I know that they will do the job there.”
Ighalo is the second major injury blow for Gernot Rohr’s side, after the loss of goalkeeper Francis Uzoho who has been replaced by Theophilus Afelokhai.
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Henry Onyekuru who was on the standby list has replaced Ighalo.