Odion Ighalo Continues Red Hot Form in Saudi Arabia, Nets 21st League Goal in Al Hilal Win

Odion Ighalo Continues Red Hot Form in Saudi Arabia, Nets 21st League Goal in Al Hilal Win

Chukwu Ikechukwu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:02 PM
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  • Odion Ighalo netted a second-half penalty to power Al Hilal to a fine 2-0 away win at Al Ittifaq in their outstanding Saudi Pro League match
  • Ighalo is the top scorer in the Saudi Arabian League after netting his 21st goal of the season and is four goals clear of the second spot
  • Al Hilal may still not win the Saudi league title, with the defending champions sitting second, six points behind leaders Al Ittihad with only four games left

Odion Ighalo continued his impressive goal-scoring form for Al Hilal as the Nigerian netted the second goal to give the Saudi Arabian side a 2-0 win against Al Ittifaq.

Ali Albulayhi's goal against Al Ettifaq at the half-hour mark gave Al Hilal the lead in the first half before Ighalo scored from the penalty spot to secure the win for Al Hilal.

Odion Ighalo, Saudi Arabia, Al Hilal, Super Eagles, Nigeria, China
Odion Ighalo has seen scored 21 goals in just 26 matches for Al Hilal in the SPL. Photo by Matthew Ashton
Source: Getty Images

According to Pulse Sports, the Super Eagles striker has now scored 21 goals in the Saudi Arabian topflight this season.

Ighalo looks set to emerge as the top scorer in the Saudi Arabian league this term as his four goals clear off his nearest challenger, Romarinho of Al Ittihad.

The Nigerian has now equalled his best goal tally in a season which he hit in his second year at Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai.

Al Hilal might fall short of the league title despite Igahlo’s goals

Meanwhile, Al Hilal might not be crowned Champions of the Saudi Arabian league despite the efforts of Odion Ighalo.

According to Soccernet, the league defending champions are second on the league standings, six points behind leaders Al Ittihad with only four games left.

Ighalo has scored nine goals in nine matches since he joined Al Hilal from Al Shabab, where he netted 12 goals in 18 appearances.

Odion Ighalo set for a big summer transfer

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Odion Ighalo could be making a return to European football once again when the summer transfer window opens as two European sides have listed the Nigerian as a transfer target.

The 32-year-old last played for a European side when he signed on loan for English Premier League giants, Manchester United from Chinese club, Shanghai Shenhua in the 2020/21 season.

Ighalo has since moved to Saudi Arabia after his loan spell and currently plays for Al-Hilal whom he joined from Al Shabab in 2022.

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Chukwu Ikechukwu
Chukwu Ikechukwu Godwin is a journalist with over 9 years of experience in the Nigerian media industry. He has worked both in Radio (Today FM, Rhythm FM, Wish FM) and Television (Silverbird TV) as a Sports Analyst..
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