Odion Ighalo: A Journeyman’s Tale & The Last Straw
It's some distance between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. But it feels right on time for Odion Ighalo. His present position is a Mecca of some sorts. The boots he left behind are still paid homage to and his phone is still home to some pilgrimage, yet his journey had its roots in so many doubts.
When the Flying Eagles took on the world in 2009, Ighalo was the skipper as the team bowed out of the World Youth Championship in the Round of 16, after a defeat to Germany. That team doesn't spark any fond memory. It's a path many have forgotten and most members of the team hardly had a decent bow at either club or national team level. It's still one of Samson Siasia’s low points as a Nigerian football coach. Ighalo, while leading the team hardly did enough to be remembered too, and it was understandable that his recall I the national team took so long.
An apt example of a journeyman; Ighalo’s journey from Nigeria to Manchester United was surreal. It's the stuff of dreamland. And when he was frozen out of the team, there was little he could complain about. He had lived a lifelong desire. A reality many never get to achieve. That path had thorns on some turns. His time at Udinese, through Cesena and Granada came with highs and lows and every club presented a different struggle. Playing for Watford in the Championship and helping them gain promotion had proven to be a high point, until he lighted the Premier League up with some decent return.
When money called, and China knocked, the attacker made the move. It culminated in a strong period for his national team career. His one-time abandoned aircraft became a national carrier as he scored important goals. The long path he's had was proving to be reaching its climax. The struggles of yore were culminating into greater days. There was money, there was prestige, respect had hit home and value was on the up. It felt like all he'd ever wanted, but it took long, arduous years.
His goals were precious as Nigeria battled to make it to the World Cup. The Super Eagles qualified in good time and Ighalo was very instrumental to that achievement. He gave his all at every point in time and scored very important goals. The World Cup itself wasn't as good as it promised as Ighalo huffed and puffed. Football fans are fickle and their window for patience is always half-open, half-closed. When they are happy, they throw it open, when you don't give them what they want, they keep it tightly closed.
After the 2018 disappointment, the attacker had to delete his Instagram account after threats to his family’s life. He came back, and that was an understandable move. He had a point to prove. That he could deliver on a very high level. Ighalo finished top scorer at the 2019 AFCON and all the criticisms and threats he'd received became sheer idiocy; a major highlight of the short nature of a football lover’s memory. Rightly, he called it quits. The ovation was the loudest and every Nigerian appreciated his achievement. He had bounced back strongly, gained some inroads into fans’ affection with his “favour over labour” mantra on social media. His journey may have been proof of that. Manchester United’s popularity in Nigeria also played a critical part in his newfound popularity amongst many and when the Saudi move came, it proved to be the turbaning of his best days.
The journey was a long one. His career has spanned sixteen active years now and the road has been smooth and rough at different seasons. What may prove to be the greatest lesson he didn't learn will be not knowing to let go of a difficult friendship. A Nigerian football fanbase that he found hard to convince has grown to become his greatest admirers but all of that may change with any wrong swing of the boot. Every opportunity missed will be a reminder of his worst days, than his best moments.
There's time to let go! His re-entrance may not be as grand as he’d imagine. He left when his time was up. A reappearance may be a recipe for oblivion. The camel’s back may get broken. Hopefully, it won't be.