Former Super Eagles Striker Odion Jude Ighalo has become a weekly bundle of joy for Nigerians after joining Manchester United in a loan deal from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua in January.
Manchester United haven’t lost a game, keeping 9 clean sheets since Ighalo joined in January. Ole has been a lot more relaxed, Sir Alex smiles more in the stands. #LASKMUN
Get yourself a Nigerian if you want happiness & joy in your life. 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/CyFrE9Ut9B
— E (@iamOkon) March 12, 2020
Ighalo grabbed his fourth goal in as many as three starts for the Red Devils in their round of 16 Europa League encounter against LASK at the Linzer Stadion.
The No.25 jersey wearing forward collected a pass from Bruno Fernandes right inside the opposition box crowded with white jerseys but juggled the ball so effectively – with his right leg, then left and right again before firing a volley into the top far corner of the net to open scoring in the 28th minute.
Bruno dey push ball go front, E wan give James, dem block am, ball go meet Bruno again. E fling am give Ighalo for Accra. E jogg ball with hin right leg, ball go left, e jogg am with hin left, ball go right, e jogg am again, ball con balance well. E WIPE AM go Obalende! Goal! pic.twitter.com/qnyx66UPuo
— Man United in Pidgin (@ManUtdInPidgin) March 12, 2020
The former Watford striker has now registered four goals in 292 minutes of play, that is, an average of a goal every 70 minutes.
As usual, Nigerians went berserk with their tweets while trying to pour accolades on the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations highest goal scorer. On the night he joined United, he beat Brexit on the Twitter trends. This time around, he outwitted the ravaging pandemic, COVID-19 – the one virus that almost stopped him from fulfilling his childhood dream.
One of the fans made up a quote for Juventus star and 5-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Cristiano Ronaldo: ‘Growin up in Portugal and at Sporting, I’d spend countless hours on YouTube watching videos of Ighalo.
His first touch, his technique, his finishing everything and then I’ll try to practice it in training the next day to model my game like his
He’s The Goat’,” he tweeted.
Cristiano Ronaldo:
“Growin up in Portugal and at Sporting, I’d spend countless hours on YouTube watching videos of Ighalo.
His first touch, his technique, his finishing everything and then I’ll try to practice it in training the next day to model my game like his
He’s The 🐐” pic.twitter.com/m228gVtSc2— Edmund 💉 (@EdmundOris) March 12, 2020
Another made a stat comparing the Nigerian International to Lionel Messi and Ronaldo.
Goals scored in March 2020
Cristiano Ronaldo : 0
Lionel Messi : 0
Odion Ighalo : 3
Odion Ighalo is the greatest player of all time.
— Ewure Of Africa 💧 (@Dehkunle) March 12, 2020
What Ighalo’s stat against LASK looked like…
Odion Ighalo’s game by numbers vs. LASK:
⬡ 100% pass accuracy
⬡ 5 take-ons completed
⬡ 4 chances created
⬡ 4 shots
⬡ 2 shots on target
⬡ 2 fouls won
⬡ 1 assist
⬡ 1 goalLiving the dream. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/YnGl06SCI7
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 12, 2020
United fans around the world reechoed the admiration of Nigerians for Ighalo in voting him as the Man of the Match.
What. A. Guy. 🤩
You’ve voted @IghaloJude as tonight’s #MUFC Man of the Match 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/w9fpfdXWKZ
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 12, 2020
A few other fans used the opportunity to take a dig at some players.
Ighalo out there scoring and assisting for fun, meanwhile two donkeys from London out there riding a camel. Levels!#LASKMUN #UEL #MUFC pic.twitter.com/734BLKBRYT
— jaDON JAY❄️ (@SauceyJqy) March 12, 2020
And to think that many of the Club’s greats were not really pleased with Ole Solksjaer for bringing in a 30-year-old from China, you can as well bet that Ighalo is having the last laugh.
A lot of people made fun of Odion Ighalo’s move to Manchester United.
Needless to say… he had the LASK laugh.
— John Bennett (@JohnBennettBBC) March 12, 2020
