Odion Ighalo scores in FIFA World Club Cup on Al Hilal debut

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It is just over a year since Odion Ighalo left Manchester United when his loan deal expired.

Ighalo ended up moving to Saudi Arabian side Al Shabab, where he scored a creditable 22 goals in 32 games.

We reported on transfer deadline day how the Nigerian striker had switched clubs again, moving to reigning Saudi league champions Al Hilal.

His move has got off to a strong start, after he netted on his debut in the FIFA World Club Cup.

Al Hilal are in the competition after winning the Asian Champions League in 2021, and Ighalo helped them to a win over UAE side Al Jazira.

Ighalo scored an equalising goal which helped his side go onto win 6-1, with former West Brom midfielder Matheus Pereira on the scoresheet too.

Chelsea clash ahead

Ighalo, 32, will now lead the line for Al Hilal in the FIFA World Club Cup semi-finals against Chelsea this week.

It was against Chelsea who Ighalo made his Manchester United debut in 2020, coming on as a late substitute and nearly scoring.

As a former United player, he will be desperate to try and get one over on the side which also ended his hope of a FA Cup medal at the semi-final stage in during his loan spell.

Ighalo scored five goals for United during his loan stint, four of which came before the lockdown. The break ended his momentum and by time his loan spell ended, he often did not even make the substitutes bench.

The striker’s side will be underdogs against Chelsea when the teams meet on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. Let’s hope he can do us proud and send Thomas Tuchel’s side packing.

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