My source of Inspiration – Manchester United’s striker, Odion Ighalo

Odion Ighalo (25) of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-2 during the FA Cup match between Derby County and Manchester United at the Pride Park, Derby, England on 5th March 2020. (Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto)

Manchester United’s striker Odion Ighalo has revealed that even though he was still very young when it happened, he still draws inspiration from the Atlanta 1996 triumph of the Super Eagles; the first Dream Team, where they became the first African team in history to win an Olympic Gold medal in the football event.

Odion Ighalo was named in the provisional squad of the 2016 Olympics but missed out of the competition due to club commitments with Watford as at that time.

In a recent interview with Colin Udoh of ESPN, Odion Ighalo said a lot of people do talk about the triumph each time they discuss the history of Nigerian football and he was inspired by the remarkable achievement of the team led by Bonfrere Jo

He said;

“Though I was very young when that happened, I have heard a lot about it,” Ighalo told ESPN. “But I watched the games later, and it inspired me a lot because, when you talk about Nigerian football, people always remember that team.

“It is even one of the things our generation tried to achieve with the national team. And I hope the coming generation can achieve that. They made us proud and happy to be Nigerians with what they achieved, and I hope this generation can also try to achieve that.”

Monday, 3rd of August 2020 made it 24 years after the Dream Team defeated a star-packed Argentina team in the Gold medal match at the Sanford Stadium Athens. Goals from Celestine Babayaro, Daniel Amokachi, and Emmanuel Amunike ensured a 3-2 victory for the team in what is considered as the most remarkable achievement in the narrative of Nigerian football.