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| Ighalo |
After knocking
out holders Arsenal in the last round, The Nigerian hitman was in high
spirits and thought his team were on the verge of making history. He believed he would return as “King of Nigeria”,
if the Hornets had eventually won the trophy.
“If
I win the FA Cup then I will be going back like a king! King of Nigeria!”
Ighalo told The Telegraph of London.
“Not
every team in the Premier League can win it but they can win the FA Cup. No-one
gave Watford a chance of being where we are today but we are there now and it’s
possible for us to win and go to the final.”
But that was not to be as the Watford
failed to overcome Palace at Wembley.
Ighalo has
emerged as one of the most feared strikers in England. Last year the striker,
who was then playing in the Championship, was the highest goals scorer in the
four divisions in England with over 30 goals.
The 26-year-old took his great form
into the Premiership, scoring 14 goals so far to ensure his unfancied club
remains in the top flight, against all predictions. Due to his exploits, he was
voted Premier League Player of the Month in December 2015.
If
he had reached the FA Cup final, it would have been his first appearance in a
cup final of any kind in a career that has taken him to four European countries
since he left Nigeria at the age of 18.
Unfortunately, for now, Ighalo will
not join the handful of Nigerians who have won the FA Cup. The list includes
Nwankwo Kanu– who won it with Arsenal and Portsmouth, scoring the winning goal
for Portsmouth in the 2008 final – Daniel Amokachi (Everton), and Mikel Obi
(Chelsea).
However, these guys didn’t become “kings
of Nigeria,” even though they achieved this feat. Moreover, other Nigerian
players have won league titles in England and every other major league in
Europe. Heck, some have even won the Champions League! If they didn’t become
kings of Nigeria, then I don’t know why Ighalo thought he would have been
crowned one.
Maybe the Edo-born striker was just
trying to crack a joke. That would be okay. He would more likely be crowned king
of Watford, especially if he had scored the winning goal. That town has been
hungry for a trophy for sometime and Ighalo’s goals have made them to start
dreaming.
If he really wants to be “king of
Nigeria” he should lead the Super Eagles to the World Cup – and score the winning
goal in the final. That way, he would not just be king of Nigeria, he would be
king of Africa. His name would be written eternally in gold.
Post Script
Odion Ighalo lost his father Paul the
morning after the FA Cup semi-final clash with Crystal Palace. I pray that God
will console and strengthen the striker and his family. May the soul of Pa Paul
Ighalo rest in peace. Amen
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