Shanghai Greenland Shenhua striker Odion Ighalo called time to his international football career moments after helping Nigeria to win bronze at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Ighalo was top scorer at the tournament with six goals and based on that performance has been named in the final shortlist for the 2019 African Footballer of the Year award to be held in Dakar, Senegal on 7 January 2020.

Ighalo's return may not necessarily be good news for Lille's Victor Osimhen who has assumed the point man for the Nigeria squad.

But it does have its benefits. Ighalo is an inspiration for the younger Osimhen who himself admitted that he has taken useful advise from the more experienced international colleague.

Bringing Ighalo back in the fold will reduce the amount of pressure on Osimhen's young pressure. He (Osimhen) did admit that he needs other strikers to also deliver the goals.

Aside the weight of expectations, the Eagles attack will be stronger for it as there will be more firepower for the team and also it deals with the disappointment of not capping Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, the England international of Nigerian descent who chose to pledge his allegiance to his country of birth rather than his country of origin.

Ighalo's return is not expected to be beyond a period of two, at most three years, which should not mean him playing at the expense of Osimhen if the latter's form and fitness deserve his starting place.

Izuchukwu Okosi