Club World Cup team news : Super Eagles star named in starting lineup vs Chelsea

Published: February 09, 2022

Allnigeriasoccer.com can exclusively report that Super Eagles star Odion Ighalo will certainly be in action when Al Hilal face off with European champions Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Wednesday evening, provided he does not suffer an injury in the pre-match warm-up.

Though Al Hilal coach Leonardo Jardim is keeping his starting lineup close to his chest, this website can report with certainty that Ighalo will start the game from the off, if the final workout held by the Asian side is anything to go by.

It would be Ighalo's seventh career appearance against Chelsea having faced them previously on six occasions during his spell with Watford and Manchester United.

Four of those games came in the colours of the Hornets and two in the 2019-2020 season at Manchester United.

Ighalo thought he had found the net on his maiden top-flight appearance against Chelsea on December 26, 2015, only for the so-called Dubious Goals Panel crediting his effort as a Gary Cahill own goal after it was reviewed by the Premier League's Goal Accreditation Panel.

Other African stars available for selection this evening are Mali's Moussa Marega, Senegal's AFCON star édouard Mendy and Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech.

The winner of the Al Hilal versus Chelsea clash will take on Brazilian outfit Palmeiras in the showpiece on Saturday, February 12.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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