After Missing Ongoing AFCON Tournament, Nigerian Striker Scores Stunning Goal for Club

• Odion Ighalo won’t stop scoring for his Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Shabab as the Nigerian international grabbed yet another goal
• The forward was on the score sheet in his side’s 1-1 draw with Al-Fateh in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday
• Ighalo who is the leading scorer in the country has now found the back of the net twelve times in fourteen appearances this season

Nigerian international Odion Ighalo has continued his blistering goal-scoring form for Saudi outfit Al-Shabab as he netted his 12th league goal of the season, Tribuna reports.

The 32-year-old found the back of the net in his side’s 1-1 draw at home against Al-Fateh in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday.

The striker who was not released for the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon has now scored 12 goals in 18 league appearances for Al Shabab this season.

Ighalo opened the scoring for Al-Shabab in the 66th minute, but the visitors responded through Murad Batna twelve minutes later.

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Following the draw, Al Shabab, on 34 points, miss the chance to close the gap on leaders Al Ittihad who are on 38 points with two games to play, Complete Sports reports.

Ighalo, who tops the scorer's chart, has now scored four goals in his last six games (three in the league and one in the King’s Cup).

Why Ighalo did not take part in AFCON

The director of communications of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ademola Olajire, has confirmed that striker Odion Ighalo will not be part of the Super Eagles squad to AFCON 2021.

In an interview with sports radio station Brila FM, Olajire disclosed that the player’s Al-Shabab club of Saudi Arabia says he won’t be released.

This is a setback for interim coach Augustine Eguavoen who will be looking to lead the team to win their fourth continental title.

Ighalo was billed to be a formidable replacement for striker Victor Osimhen who was excused from the team after the Napoli of Italy youngster tested positive for Covid-19.

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Nigeria set up clash with Tunisia in AFCON Round of 16

Sports Brief earlier reported that the Super Eagles of Nigeria will trade tackles with Tunisia in the Round of 16 at the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Having emerged table toppers in Group D, Nigeria are billed to take on the third-placed Group F team as the Carthage Eagles occupied that spot after the final matches of the preliminary rounds are concluded on Thursday.

Tunisia finished the preliminary rounds with 3 points as they were defeated 1-0 by Gambia who finished second position with 7 points in Group F, behind Mali who defeated Mauritania 2-0 to win the group with 7 points and a better goal difference.