Odion Ighalo becomes the 11th player to score a hat-trick for Nigeria senior national team

Odion Jude Ighalo who has been under heavy criticism from Nigerian fans may have shut his critics up after putting his name in the history book in Nigeria’s 4-0 home win against Libya in an AFCON qualifiers game on Saturday.

The Changchun Yatai’s striker who has scored 20 goals in the Chinese Super League scored three goals as Nigeria trashed Libya to make it two in two in their qualifier games after suffering a 2-0 home loss to South Africa in their first game.

The former Watford striker opened the scoring for the Super Eagles in the 4th minutes when he scored from the spot-kick after he was dragged by Libyan goalie.

He scored his second goal in the 58th minutes after receiving a through ball from Alex Iwobi. He completed his hattrick just 11 minutes after he scored his second goal when he scored from Ahmed Musa’s cross.

Samuel Kalu completed the 4-0 easy win for the Super Eagles at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

Odion Ighalo’s hat-trick means he is now the 11th player to have scored three goals in a game for any of Nigeria’s senior national team.

Buraimoh Abudu became the 1st player to score three goals for the senior national team in Nigeria’s 10-1 victory over Dahomey, now Benin Republic 10-1 on November 8, 1959, in a Nkrumah Cup game played in Lagos.

Paul Hamilton became the 2nd player when he scored three for Nigeria in Green Eagles’ 4-0 victory over Senegal in the third-place match of Nkrumah Cup played on February 27, 1963.

Bobo Mordi became the 3rd player ever to score three in a game for Nigeria’s senior national team when he scored a hat-trick in Green Eagles’ 4-1 victory over Gabon, in Libreville in international friendly on August 29, 1965.

Thompson Usiyen became the 4th player ever to score three in a game for Nigeria’s senior national team when he scored a hattrick in Eagles’ 7-0 victory over the Benin Republic at National Stadium in Lagos in an international friendly played on February 14, 1977.

Segun Odegbami became the 5th player ever to score three in a game for Nigeria’s senior national team when he scored a hattrick in Eagles’ 7-0 victory over the Benin Republic at National Stadium in Lagos in the qualifying series of the 3rd All Africa Games played on January 14, 1978.

Rasheed Yekini became the 6th player ever to score three in a game for Nigeria’s senior national team when he scored a hattrick in Super Eagles’ 6-0 victory over Ethiopia in the last qualifying match of the Tunisia 1994 Cup of Nations hosted in Lagos on July 14, 1993.

Victor Ikpeba became the 7th player ever to score three in a game for Nigeria’s senior national team when he scored a hattrick in Super Eagles’ 4-0 victory over Namibia in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played on September 2, 2000.

Ikechukwu Uche became the 8th player ever to score three in a game for Nigeria’s senior national team when he scored a hattrick in Super Eagles’ 5-0 victory over Portuguese second division side, Farense in a test match played in Faro on January 15, 2013.

Nnamdi Oduamadi became the 9th-player ever to score three in a game for Nigeria’s senior national team when he scored a hattrick in Super Eagles’ 6-1 victory over Tahiti in their opening game at 2013 Confederations Cup match played on 17th June 2013 at the Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte.

Chisom Chikatara became the 10th player ever to score three in a game for Nigeria’s senior national team when he scored a hattrick for the CHAN Eagles in their 4-1 victory over Niger in their first group game of the African Nations Championship played on January 18th, 2016 at Stade Régional Nyamirambo, Kigali.

Odion Ighalo for his strike in Nigeria’s 4-0 victory over Libya in an African Nations Cup Qualifier match played at the Goodswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on 13th of October 2018 became the 11th player ever.

BY: @1topham