Shanghai Greenland Shenhua striker, Odion Ighalo says he is delighted to have been Nigeria’s match-winner in their opening 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) game against Burundi.
The Super Eagles struggled to find top gear against the tournament debutants in their Group B clash at Alexandria Stadium on Saturday night and looked set to settle for a goalless stalemate.
However, Ighalo replaced starting striker Paul Onuachu and proceeded to score the game’s only goal, running onto a back-heel pass from Ola Aina before providing a perfectly-placed finish beyond the Swallows’ goalkeeper in the 77th minute.
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“I really feel great to have come on and scored because as a player when you are called upon to come in you have to do your best,” Ighalo, ex-Watford star said after the match.
“It wasn’t easy for us, but then again you don’t expect easy matches.”
He added, “I think we have set the tone for ourselves moving forward and our confidence has improved. We won it [the AFCON] in 2013 and obviously being here we want to win it again.”