Ighalo reveals he nearly quit Eagles after receiving death threats following his poor World Cup showing

SUPER Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has revealed that he nearly quit the national team after the Russia 2018 World Cup following death threats he and his family received following his poor performance at the tournament.

Currently in a rich vein of form scoring five goals in his last two matches, Ighalo was the hero of the double-headed Nations Cup qualifiers against Libya over the last week, banging in a hat trick in the first leg in Uyo over the weekend and scoring a brace away in the return leg on Tuesday. This is a far cry from his sorry form during last summer's World Cup when he was pathetic in front of goal.

Ighalo, 29, endured a torrid tournament in Russia as the Super Eagles crashed out in the group stages of the competition, failing to find the back of the net despite being served numerous chances. Super Eagles fans called for his head after a spectacular miss in the 2-1 loss to Argentina in their last group match, when he shot wide with an empty net at his mercy.

However, the Chanchung Yatai and former Watford striker has once again found his way into the hearts of the  with his recent goals. Ighalo added that  the period after the World Cup was tough for him and he considered quitting the team.

Ighalo said: “I know the fans want me to score goals. I understand them but some of them took it to another level. They said a lot of things to my innocent kids, to my wife, even to the extent that they threatened my life and the life of my family.

“I felt very bad and I had to talk to my wife because she could not take it. Some of the words they said about my kids, about me and some words they said to her, the is beyond football.

“You know women and how they react when you talk about their children but I never said a word to anybody and I never replied anyone. My wife said you don’t have to go to Nigeria anymore and I knew it was because of all what they said to her and to our family.”

However, he added that he did not quit because Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr convinced him to stay with the team. He said the goals he scored against Libya were not to prove his doubters wrong but to give his best for the country.