Ighalo, 26 is one of the best players in the English Premiership at the moment with 10 goals to his name and the fourth highest scorer in the league this season. Apart from his goals, his work rate is also phenomenal and his trickery has endeared him to the Watford fans, who have nicknamed one of his moves the Ighalo Scoop.
Last week, Nigeria qualified for the Rio Olympics when she won the U23 African Championships and along with Algeria and South Africa will be the continent's representatives in the men's football tournament in Brazil. Known as the Dream Team IV, the squad is under pressure to repeat the heroics of the 1996 team which won goal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
In 2008, Siasia was the team's manager when it won silver at the Beijing Olympics but this time around, he is keen to go one better. Already, Siasia has sounded out Ighalo and Super eagles skipper Ahmed Musa as two of the three over-aged players he would like to take to the tournament.
Fifa allows three over-aged players to feature at the Olympics and if Siasia goes for Ighalo and Musa, he may already have his full complement of players after Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi declared his interest to play in Rio. Siasia said he hopes to draft in players who are playing regularly for their European clubs for the Rio games.
Siasia added: “I’m still undecided on the areas that the overage players would be needed but I’m happy that the likes of Ighalo and Musa are in top form now. I hope they will sustain it until the Olympics.”
In 1996, Nigeria became the first African nation to win Olympic football gold, defeating Argentina and Brazil in the semi finals and finals. This time around, Brazil, who has never won Olympic gold, will be keen to become champions as they are hosting the tournament.
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