Ighalo finally Speaks on Reason That Made Him Miss 2021 AFCON in Cameroon for Nigeria

Odion Ighalo has finally stated clearly that those in charge of Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab were the ones who stopped him from going to the 2021 African Cup of Nations with Super Eagles.

Odion Ighalo made return to the Nigerian national team last year after going on leave for two years and football lovers were expecting him to play Super Eagles at the AFCON.

His name was among the final list the NFF announced for the 2021 African Cup of Nations, but Odion Ighalo did not show up.

Victor Osimhen who would have led the attack for the Super Eagles was also not available due to injury and Taiwo Awoniyi and Sadiq Umar had to lead the attack for Nigeria at AFCON 2021.

According to the report on GOAL and ESPN, Odion Ighalo explained that he was not happy with the AFCON 2021 that he missed which forced him to leave Al Shabab.

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Football

Odion Ighalo's reaction about missing 2021 AFCON

"I was not happy with them and we decided to part ways because the Nations Cup that I didn't go to caused a lot of bad blood.

"Four hours until my flight [to Cameroon], they had not sent me the exit visa. I called the team manager, and he told me they did not get an invitation. But I had a copy of the invitation that was sent because they copied me in the email.

"We had all this back and forth going on, I changed the ticket to the next day, and then the third day, and they still did not send me the visa. At that point I knew they did not want me to go.

"My anger was that they should have told me straight up, not smiling in my face one day and then acting a different way. That is why I decided to leave."

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Troost-Ekong sends special request to the NFF ahead of Nigeria vs Ghana World Cup final Playoffs

Earlier, Sports Brief had reported how William Troost-Ekong appealed to the Nigerian Football Federation chiefs to make the pitch of the Moshood Abiola stadium in Abuja conducive for football when they take on Ghana in March.

Following the conclusion of the 2021 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon where Nigeria crashed out in the round of 16 losing against Tunisia, Super Eagles are now focusing on the final World Cup playoffs against Ghana.

Ghana on the other hand did not also do well at the 2021 African Cup of Nations and the Black Stars will want to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.