I’m not back to my best yet, says hat trick hero Udoh

Despite scoring three goals on Sunday, Enyimba forward Mfon Udoh says is not yet fully back in form after struggling with injury for a long spell.

The striker scored a hat-trick in the 9th, 56th and 80th minutes of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League final qualifying round against Etoile du Sahel in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

A very happy Udoh told TheCable he was thrilled to be back in form, doing what he does best: banging in goals.

“I am overwhelmed by the result and the performance of myself and my team mates yesterday,” he said of the victory.

“I am short of words to explain how I actually feel about scoring a hat trick yesterday. Just excited about it.”

Asked if he was back to his best, the highest goalscorer ever in a single Nigeria football league season with 26 goals was very frank in stating that he still has some way to go.

“Let’s keep watching. I am not yet back. I am still coming,” he said.

Udoh was courted by some foreign clubs after his amazing 2015-2016 season, but a deal did not metrialise. Still, he harbours hopes of a move to North Africa or Europe.

“I am still going to keep playing, I am going to keep mum on that, I am not going to let the cat out of the bag yet. I don’t want to talk about it yet. I’ll rather wait till such happens.

“Sure, Mfon Udoh is willing to go out of the country if something tangible and concrete is available.”

Udoh is the first player to score more than 35 league goals in two seasons in Nigeria. He scored 38 goals in the regular league and six in cup competitions, for a total of 41 goals in his first two professional league seasons 2012-2014.

After electing to remain with Enyimba for the 2016 season, he scored a brace in the second leg of the 2016 CAF Champions league game against Vipers FC. He scored another brace in the next round of the competition, against Vital’o FC in an assured 5-1 home victory in Aba.

Udoh was the NPFL top scorer in the 2013-2014 season when he announced his arrival and was awarded the Nigerian League Bloggers Award (NLBA) for Player of the season.