From Ajegunle To Manchester: Odion Ighalo’s Amazing Story

By Ekene Dike

Hope and hard work definitely springs eternal. From nursing childhood dreams of playing for the Red Devils to finally becoming the first Nigerian to sign for Manchester United, Odion Ighalo’s journey from the poignant streets of Ajegunle to his triumphant entry into the city of Manchester is truly motivational.

The Nigeria international signed for Manchester United on the deadline day from Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua. He found the back of the net 36 times in 55 appearances for the Chinese club.

Hitherto, he played for Watford between 2014 and 2017, scoring 20 goals in 30 appearances to catapult the team to the English top flight. His fine form was a continuum in the Premier League as he went on to score 15 goals in Watford’s debut season in the premier league.

His goal scoring prowess prevented the catastrophe of relegation for the Hornets. But the subsequent season wasn’t sensational for him. A struggle to find the back of the net triggered a move away from the English Premier League.

However, at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, he was castigated after an abysmal performance in the world’s biggest football stage. Also, he also received death threats from furious Nigerian supporters. He failed to score a goal and Nigeria crashed out in the Group Stage. At the AFCON 2019 tournament in Egypt, he bounced back by scoring 5 goals and won the golden boot of the competition. Prior to the competition, he was the highest goal scorer in the qualifiers.

Odion Ighalo’s zeal and determination to succeed has gotten him to Manchester United. The loan spell means that he will become the first Nigerian player in history to play for Manchester United.

STYLE OF PLAY: He is strong, technically gifted, a good passer, possesses nice footwork, master of hold up play and is an exceptional goal poacher.

The Red Devils will he hoping that he can deliver after the unfortunate injury to their talisman, Marcus Rashford who will be out for over three months. Odion Ighalo is expected to spearhead the Manchester United attack and galvanize them in their bid to finish in the top four this season.

Nevertheless, it takes consistency and dedication to play for a club which you supported as a kid and Ighalo’s story shows that there are no such things like “pipe dreams”. Thus, dreams come true for those who believe and plan to work extraordinarily hard.

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