Odemwingie Calls Ighalo's Saudi Advice To Osimhen Foolishness
Lagos · Thursday 1 October 2026
Peter Odemwingie has described Odion Ighalo's advice that Victor Osimhen should move to Saudi Arabia as foolishness. The two former Super Eagles strikers are on opposite sides of a question every top Nigerian player now faces.
What Ighalo has argued
Ighalo's case, made more than once, is simple: go to Saudi Arabia for two years, earn money that changes a family's life, then return to Europe while still young enough to play there. He points to his own career, which took him to China and then, at thirty, to Manchester United. Osimhen chose Galatasaray instead.
| The case for Saudi | The case against |
|---|---|
| Take the money while it is offered | The best players should be tested at the highest level |
| Europe will still be there in two years | Careers peak once and do not wait |
| Financial security comes first | Ambition is worth more than a contract |
Odemwingie's full reasoning was not reported in detail. These are the two sides of the argument.
Roberto Carlos said last week that he lost almost everything football paid him. Ighalo's advice starts from the same fear.
The fair reading
Both positions are reasonable, and both are about the player's interest rather than the country's. The country's interest is simpler: a fit Osimhen in November. Wherever he plays, that is the only thing the Super Eagles need from this argument.
Reporting: Sports247 Nigeria, SportsRation and TheNiche.
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