Ighalo: It will be hard for anyone to break Yekini’s record

Watford FC of England predator and Super Eagles Striker Odion Ighalo believes it is possible for late Eagles legend Rashidi Yekini’s goals record to be broken but that it will be “very hard”.

Ighalo, who scored his 15th goal at club level this season at the weekend against Nottingham Forest in the English FA Cup, disclosed that he was not under pressure to score regularly.

He also  revealed that it had never crossed his mind that he might go on a goal-scoring dry spell.

Ighalo expressed happiness that Eagles strikers are doing well in different leagues in the world, saying it is a plus as Eagles prepare for the epic double header against Egypt for the African Cup of Nations 2017 qualifier.

“I feel great. Thanks to God for the goal. Happy we are through to the next round,” he said of his goal against Nottingham Forest.

“As a striker, I want to score always but not under pressure to keep scoring. Scoring for me is a personal goal. Not under some kind of pressure to keep scoring. I just want to score and score every time I play.”

On goal droughts, he said: “Every striker goes through bad times but I pray I won’t go through such. Never crossed my mind at all.”

He remained optimistic the Eagles will be in top shape well before the vital Egypt encounter, saying: “‎Yes but that is still two months from now. I am sure by that time, every hand will be on deck to make sure that we get the desired result.

“But it’s a team work. ‎We have to work hard together to achieve our aim. And our aim is to win and qualify for the AFCON.”

Odion said he had no problem with the huge competition for strikers in the Eagles. “‎It is good Nigeria players are doing well; it will make everybody work hard to start,” he said.

“I am not afraid of anybody but the coach has the final say for who to start. ‎Starting or not, I will always give my best for the national team.”

He admitted that it would be very tough for Yekini’s 37 goals for the senior national team to be equalled or beaten, saying: “‎It will be very hard for anyone to break that. But with God all things are possible.”

Yekini’s goals came in 60 international games from his debut against Ghana in 1983 till his farewell game against Denmark at the France 1998 World Cup.

Odion Ighalo presently has two goals in seven international games. He debuted under Coach Daniel Amokachi on March 24, 2015 in a game Eagles lost 0-1 to Uganda, and scored his first international goal on June 13,2015 in an AFCON qualifier against Chad at the Ahmadu Stadium Kaduna.

He again found the net on June 13, 2015 at the Stadium Edmund Machtens Brussels Stadium Belgium in a 3-0 friendly-match win against Cameroon.

He presently boast 82 goals in 227 games at club level, from Prime FC in 2005 till date.