Ighalo Three Goals Shy Of Breaking 25-Year-Old Nigerian AFCON Record

Published: July 07, 2019

Following his brace against Cameroon, Odion Ighalo is three goals shy of breaking a Nigerian record at the Africa Cup of Nations that has stood for twenty-five years.

The single-tournament scoring record for a Nigeria player belongs to Rashidi Yekini who netted five times to help the Super Eagles win the 1994 edition of the AFCON.

Ighalo, who was the top scorer during the qualifying series, scored Nigeria's opening goal of the tournament against Burundi.

He couldn't increase his tally in the other group games against Guinea and Madagascar.

However, it was his two goals that helped the Super Eagles secure their place in the quarter final round of the campaign.

The China-based striker has now found the back of the net on three occasions with one assist and he currently occupies the first position on the scorers' chart.

Senegal's Sadio Mane, whose goal was enough to defeat Uganda on Friday, and the Nigerian forward have the same number of goals.

Other players present on the log include Mickaël Poté(Benin), Stéphane Bahoken(Cameroon), Cédric Bakambu(DRC), Ahmed El Mohamady, Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Jordan Ayew (Ghana) who are all on two goals.

The Super Eagles will meet South Africa, who surprisingly defeated the host country Egypt 1-0 on Saturday, in the quarter final round and Ighalo will hope to continue his goalscoring run.

Ibukun Italoye