Odion Ighalo: Whenever he scores for United, the whole of Nigeria celebrates
Whenever Odion Ighalo finds the net for Manchester United, football fans in Nigeria are always thrown into wild jubilation, an indication that every football loving Nigerian love seeing Ighalo in the United shirt doing what he is hired to do – scoring goals.
The ex-Nigeria international Odion Ighalo has now scored four goals for Manchester United since joining the English Premier League club on loan on Friday January 31, 2020, the deadline day for winter transfer window.
His deadline day move from Shanghai Shenhua in China to Old Trafford came with a shock and attracted some mockery remarks from football fans across the world who believe he is not the superstar the struggling club needs, but back home in Nigeria the reception has been positive, not only from Manchester United fans, but also from fans of rival clubs.
Since joining United, Nigerians always put their differences aside and are united in their support for Ighalo. From his colleagues in the Nigerian national teams, to netizens and fans on the streets, it is clear that most Nigerians want his success at United to prove doubters wrong.
When he made his first start for United against Club Brugge in the Europa League on Thursday February 27, 2020, Super Falcons and African female footballer of the year Asisat Oshoala was quick to predict that Ighalo would score his first goal that night and he did.
Oshoala tweeted:
Odion Ighalo first goal as MAN UTD player 27th Of February 2020 …….you read it here first 💪🏾 #NaijaToTheWorld @ighalojude
— ASISAT M.O.N (@AsisatOshoala) February 27, 2020
His goal that night sent the Nigeria Twitter community into a frenzy as Nigerians flooded the microblogging site to shower praises on Ighalo, while some shared hilarious memes to celebrate his goal.
Again, social media was abuzz last night when he scored another sparkling opener for United in the 5-0 rout of LASK in the Europa League last 16 first leg fixture.
Nigerians flooded Twitter with hilarious reactions, memes and weird stats ranking him as the best footballer and the football GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). Some even went overboard, suggesting that he should be awarded the Balon d’Or (award for the world’s best footballer of the year). That’s how much Nigerians love to see Ighalo score for Manchester United.
The AFCON 2019 highest goal scorer has now scored in all his three starts and has scored four goals in nine appearances for the Red Devils and the whole of Nigeria love to see him do that.
