Offers Beginning To Pile Up For AFCON Qualifiers Top Marksman Ighalo, Rohr Reveals

Published: November 24, 2018

Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr expects Odion Ighalo to switch clubs in the January transfer window following the demotion of Changchun Yatai from the Chinese Super League.

Rohr revealed that it's not good for the player and national team if he follows Changchun Yatai to China League One, adding that several clubs have made enquiries about signing the striker after finishing the 2018 campaign as the second top scorer in the Super League.

Ighalo became public enemy number one after the Super Eagles were eliminated from the 2018 World Cup but is back in the good books of the supporters thanks to his six goals in three matches in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

''He gave a wonderful reaction when I called him after the World Cup. I saw what was happening in social media and then you remember this match against Argentina,'' Rohr told Sports Editors on Friday.

''First half Kelechi played, he was not so good. Second half Ighalo, he did well but missed this opportunity, not a good reaction from the fans. It was not his mistake, it was other problems.

''Everybody is happy he scored those goals against Libya and Seychelles.''

The German added : ''Now he is in second division with his club, I hope he will return to a first division club. He is second top scorer in China so he has offers to go to first division clubs.

''What he told me few days ago is he has started running after his injury which is good. They have a break in China.

''His club want him to remain but it's better for him and for us if he remains in first division and even can return to Europe, it is possible.

''If you score goals for your team, you will find a better club''.

Ighalo, who is Nigeria's highest-paid footballer, is contracted to Changchun Yatai until December 31, 2020.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel