Super Eagles Boss Rohr Reveals Real Reason He Wants Odion Ighalo Back 2 Years After Retirement

• Odion Ighalo hung his national team boots in 2019 after helping Nigeria win AFCON bronze medal in Egypt
• The 32-year-old also clinched the tournament's golden boot after scoring the most goal in the competition
• Nigeria's head coach Rohr has however highlighted the importance of the former Man United and Watford star in the national team

Coach Gernot Rohr has described former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo as a special kind of player and that is why he wants him back in the Super Eagles squad.

The German-born tactician included the 32-year-old in his provisional squad for next month's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde.

Ighalo has been out of the national team fold since he announced his retirement in 2019 - the same year he won AFCON golden boot award while helping the Eagles finish third in the tourney.

Although Rohr insists that Napoli star Victor Osimhen remains his number one striker, he just wants the presence of the ex-Watford star in his dressing room. He was quoted by Complete Sports saying:

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“He was the top scorer at the 2019 AFCON qualifiers and also the AFCON itself. That’s why I included him on our provisional squad.

“(Victor) Osimhen is our No 1 striker, but there is none like Ighalo, he’s different, he’s a special player, he smells football.

“We have many young players who could learn a lot playing alongside such a great player. He also has the ambition to help his country. He could also help us much more.”

Nigeria sit atop the Group C table with nine points from four games as they prepare for their final group games in November.

Why Ighalo is important to Super Eagles

Legit.ng earlier reported that Garba Lawal has stated that Odion Ighalo is still relevant to the Super Eagles, AOI Football.

The 32-year-old who currently plies his trade with Saudi Arabian out Al-Shabab has been in good scoring form for his side in the new season, scoring eight goals in nine matches.

The former Man United striker called it quits after Nigeria came third at the AFCON 2019 tournament and was named the top marksman of the competition with five goals.