Super Eagles legend, Nwankwo Kanu has urged Manchester United loanee, Odion Ighalo to reconsider his retirement from international football.
Recall that Ighalo, 30, retired from the national team after helping Nigeria clinch bronze at the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON). He was the highest goal scorer at the tournament with five goals.
Since his shock deadline-day loan move to Old Trafford, he has bagged three goals from two starts, drawing praise from the likes of former United stars Rio Ferdinard and Dimitar Berbatov.
There has also been talks of United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer extending the Shanghai Greenland Shenhua striker’s deal at Old Trafford.
But Kanu told Goal that Gernot Rohr’s side would require Ighalo’s experience and form, urging him to consider rejoining the Super Eagles.
“Nigeria needs every good player no matter where they are playing or their age.
“If he performs in Manchester United, we will ask him to come back and tell him to forget what he said.
“This is football and we have to watch and see how the situation would unfold. Not just Ighalo, Nigeria need whoever is in form,” he said.
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Ighalo, who made his debut for the senior national team in 2015, announced his retirement in July 2019 after scoring 16 goals in 35 appearances.
Speaking of his international retirement, the former Watford striker said, “You always dream of playing for Nigeria as a boy and luckily I managed to do it from the under 20s to the senior side.
“But you only need to take the time to reflect and tell yourself the truth, even though it was the hardest decision to make in my life as a footballer, I think it is the right one.”