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Al Wehda striker Odion Ighalo has expressed his willingness to end his football career in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), but only if specific conditions, including security and league improvements, are met.
The 35-year-old, who won the golden boot at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, began his professional career with Prime FC (later Osun United) and Julius Berger FC before moving to Lyn in Norway for the 2007/2008 season. Ighalo has since enjoyed a stellar career across Europe, China, and the Middle East, scoring 194 goals and providing 37 assists in 404 appearances.
Speaking on the Abu Azeez Podcast, Ighalo addressed the possibility of returning to the NPFL to close out his career. “I would love to play, but I have to guarantee my security, and I would have to honour what I say because it’s not just about playing,” he said. “There are so many things involved in it… Going from playing almost twenty years outside of Nigeria to coming back to your hometown. I know it’s going to be tough, but if certain things are put in place, why not? I’d love to.”
Ighalo emphasized the need for progress in the NPFL, stating, “If they can make progress and sort out some things in the league, it’ll be good, and I believe you’ll see more ex-internationals or more Nigerian players that have played abroad will come back to finish their careers in Nigeria.” He noted, however, that the lack of guarantees makes such a decision challenging.
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