Saudi club plot to stop Ighalo from attending AFCON 2021
Saudi Arabian Professional League side, Al Shabab are plotting to stop Odion Ighalo from participating in the 2021 African Cup of Nations.
According to reports, Al Shabab eggheads are set to hold on the veteran striker and have informed him of the decision to stop him from joining the Super Eagles.
A source close to the club claimed the Nigeria Football Federation didn’t send Ighalo’s invitation letter at the right time.
The source added that Nigerian federation did not request him for the tournament in time, giving the club the power to decide whether to release the 32-year-old striker for international duty.
Ighalo is Al Shabab ‘s highest goal scorer with 11 goals from 14 games this season
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Nigeria have already been hit by a double blow to their attack after Emmanuel Dennis and Napoli’s top goalscorer Victor Osimhen both dropped out of their squad for the tournament in Cameroon and failure to secure Ighalo’s release would be disastrous.
Ighalo has been in good form for the club — netting 11 goals for them in the domestic league.
The former Watford forward initially retired from the international football in 2019, but returned to the Super Eagles last November, after several talks with former Coach Gernot Rohr.