Oliseh defends Ighalo's omission

Ighalo snubbed

Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh has insisted he cannot call up all the country’s top stars at once and so Watford striker Odion Ighalo will have to wait for his turn to be invited to the Super Eagles.

Ighalo was a major omission from an 18-man squad despite his exploits for both club and country.

Ighalo disappointed by Eagles snub

In June, Ighalo scored his first Eagles goal in a 2-0 home win over Chad in an AFCON qualifier and he got off to a flying start in the English Premier League with a goal on the opening day of the season.

“We can only play 11 players at once. We have two other strikers we want to try out,” Oliseh said in response to questions over Ighalo’s exclusion.

Russia-based Sylvester Igboun and Esperance striker Emem Eduok have been considered ahead of the former Flying Eagles skipper.

Ighalo told AfricanFootball.com he was disappointed not be called up, but hopes to continue working hard at his English club.

Oliseh also restated his resolve to adopt “a winning style of play”.

“We are starting from the scratch, but with time I hope for a winning style of play,” he promised.