March 08, (THEWILL) – In a Saudi Arabia Pro League match on Tuesday evening, Odion Ighalo scored a second-half winner to lead Al Hilal to a 2-1 victory over league leaders Al Ittihad at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh.
Despite playing at home, Ighalo and Al Hilal were faced a difficult opponent in a team that was having a fantastic season, evidenced by their position at the summit of the league’s standings.
Before kick-off, Al Ittihad had won an incredible 17 games and led the table with 54 points, 14 more than defending champions Al Hilal. Although the Blues have played two fewer games, Ighalo and his teammates knew that anything less than a perfect record would put an end to any faint hopes of retaining their title.
Salem Al Dawsari’s 16th-minute penalty gave the hosts the lead. Yet, Al Ittihad fought back valiantly and deservedly equalised on the hour mark through Haroune Camara.
Ighalo, on the other hand, was to have the final say, as he restored the Blues’ slender lead, which they maintained until the final whistle. The goal means Ighalo now has 15 goals in the Saudi Pro League after scoring four times in as many games for a team he only joined in January.
His goal-scoring performance and general display are the most ideal retort for the former Watford and Manchester United player to critics who have been questioning his return to the senior men’s national football team.
Augustine Eguavoen and Emmanuel Amunike, the Super Eagles’ handlers, named the 32-year-old Ighalo to the 25-man squad that will face Ghana in a two-legged World Cup qualifying playoff later this month and he seems to be justifying their decision.
There are indications that Eguavoen also wants to bring back another former Super Eagles’ player Victor Moses, who retired from international football after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
