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By Ebenezer Bajela.
In a bid to retain the Golden Boot award he won last season, Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo faces a new competition from Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo but the Al Hilal forward said he was not disturbed by the challenge that the former Manchester United striker would pose in the competition for the Saudi Arabian Professional League top scorer.
Ighalo, who arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2021, emerged as the league’s top scorer last season with 24 goals.
The Nigerian striker switched from Al Shabab to Al Hilal in January 2022 and he has fast formed a reputation as one of the deadliest strikers in Saudi Arabia.
Despite missing a handful of matches this season, the 33-year-old has found the back of the net eight times and currently sits third on the scorers’ chart. Al Nassr man Anderson sits on top with twelve goals, while Abderrazak Hamdallah has nine strikes.
Though without a goal yet in the league, Ronaldo’s prowess in front of goal cannot be questioned and Ighalo said he was ready for the challenge from the Portuguese, who recently joined the league.
the 37-year-old scored a brace when Saudi Arabia All-Stars played PSG in a friendly game but Ighalo remained focused on his team.
“Ronaldo is a legend and he is the best. For me he is the GOAT,” Ighalo told OmaSportsTV.
“I have too much respect and admiration for him. He is going to play for his team and he will score goals.
“I will do my own job in my own Al Hilal, and we will see how it goes at the end of the season.I just want to wish him all the best.”