Changchun Yatai of China striker, Odion Jude Ighalo has been cast in doubt to play for Nigeria against South Africa next weekend, after he bowed out with an injury while playing for his club on Wednesday.
Footballlive.ng can report that Ighalo will have to fight back to full fitness before next Saturday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Johannesburg, after he was stretchered off in his club’s last game at home in the Chinese Super League (CSL).
Ighalo was forced off after just 17 minutes of the midweek fixture, and it is now left to be seen how severe the injury is and whether he will be fit in time for the AFCON qualifier in South Africa on November 17.
The former Julius Berger, Lyn Oslo, Udinese, Granada and Watford striker, who has 21 goals this season for Changchun Yatai, has scored five in the Eagles last three ties, including a hat-trick against Libya.
Incidentally, Ighalo’s captain in the Eagles and fellow-China-based star, John Mikel Obi was missing in action for his club, Tianjin Teda on Wednesday.
Mikel, who has a year left on his contract with Teda, missed a second straight Chinese Super League game, and was not available to help them in their ongoing battles against relegation.
The former Chelsea star was ruled out with injury, as Teda faced Dalian Yifang in their second to the last game of the season without their captain, just s they were last weekend.
They are second from bottom on the table and could be automatically relegated at the weekend, in a match Mikel still appears doubtful to play, as is reportedly not fully fit.
