Ighalo wins Cup of Nations Golden Boot after tournament ends with Algeria lifting trophy

SUPER Eagles targetman Odion Ighalo has picked up the Golden Boot at the just-concluded African Cup of Nations scoring five foals during the course of the tournament to make him the continent's top marksman.

With one goal against Burundi in the group stage, two against Cameroon in the second round, a penalty against Algeria in the semi final and a final strike against Tunisia in the third place play-off, Ighalo beat off all rivals for the gong. Ighalo, 30, who has just announced his retirement from international football and who limped off with a hamstring injury against Tunisia, now has a perfect consolation prize.

Riyad Mahrez and Adam Ounas if Algeria, as well as Cedric Bakambu of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sadio Mane of Senegal, all ended the tournament with three goals each. Yesterday, the nations Cup ended in Cairo with Algeria lifting the trophy after beating Senegal 1-0 in what was a rather drab final.

Ighalo, who plays for Chinese clubside Shanghai Shenhua, becomes the second Eagles player, after the late Rashidi Yekini to have won the golden boot award at the African Cup of Nations. Yekini won it in 1994 when Nigeria lifted the trophy after beating Zambia 2-1 in the final.