Ighalo: Quitting The Super Eagles Wasn't Easy

Ex-Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has revealed how difficult it was quitting the national team but added that he made the right decision at the right time.

The 31-year old stated this in a interview with a Ghanian journalist on Instagram that quitting the Super Eagles was difficult but added that he had to take the decision after sealing a deal with Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua.

"I needed to stop because it is too long from China to Nigeria for national team duties. I’m not getting younger and we have a lot of young exciting players coming up, Victor Osimhen doing so well, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze are there."

"I thought about it, ‘this is the right time for me to leave."

He added, "It was a difficult decision because I love playing for my country, it’s a country that gave me everything I have today. So, anytime I was called upon to play for my country it was a joy to play."

"That decision was difficult but I have to do it for my health, for me to play longer in my club, so I had to stop travelling very far."

The Shangai Shenhua owned player was the top scorer at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt after scoring 5 goals which helped Nigeria to a third-place finish after which he announced his retirement from international football.