Sports
Ighalo, Living His Dream At Man Utd
As a young boy growing up in Nigeria, Odion Ighalo had to save up his lunch money in order to watch his beloved Manchester United on TV at the weekend.
Now 30, he is a United player, having signed for his boyhood club on loan until the end of the season from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua in January.
Since then, Ighalo has scored three goals in eight appearances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, and enjoyed his first Manchester derby victory on Sunday.
In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC, he discusses growing up as a united fan, the panic to make his move from China possible and the impact team-mate Bruno Fernandes can have.
When I was growing up, I knew a lot about football because I saw some of my grown-up siblings watching football on TV and they supported Manchester United.
Sometimes you would listen to commentary on the radio. Sometimes you would go out to watch at the viewing centre because some of us didn’t have the opportunity to subscribe or pay to watch.
During the week, you had to save every day from Monday to Friday to be able to do that, so I’m happy I did that because my life was all about football. I played football and I watched my team and it was one of those things I cherished every weekend.
You’d get ready, wash your jersey and go out and support your darling team. You had to save for it because without, you can’t watch.
Sometimes you would just go there and see, if you were lucky, if someone would pay for you or sneak you in, but sometimes it wasn’t possible. Sometimes you would just hear if they scored – when they shouted “goal” when Man Utd scored – and you would wait outside until the game finished, you got the result of the game and then you would go home happy.
To be the first Nigerian to play for Manchester United is a great achievement for me which I am going to cherish for the rest of my life because it’s not easy to dream something and it comes true. It’s a great feeling.
I never believed it was going to happen because the time difference from China to the UK is crazy and with the coronavirus that is going on in China.
But dreams do come true. I prayed about it and it happened. When my agent told me about it I was hoping and longing, but I was having doubts in my mind because I was in China. How was I going to fly to the UK? Am I going to beat this coronavirus to get in and united have another striker they are looking at?
I was happy my name was being mentioned but I did not put my mind on it 100% because I thought it was not going to happen because of the situation in China.
When my agent called me and told me Manchester United wanted to do this deal I said “are you serious?” and “how am I going to speak to the director because he doesn’t speak English?”.
I had to go to the translator and bang on his door. He had to go to the director to talk. I was talking to the translator and he was translating to the director, there were three-way calls with my agent and Man Utd were talking too. I didn’t get to sleep until 6am.
It still feels like a dream sometimes. But I don’t want to get carried away with too much emotion so that I am able to concentrate on training well and playing well. I know I am playing for the biggest club in the world.
Before the game, we knew it was going to be tough because we were playing against a good side, but we are United. We are capable of beating any team if we play to our standard and play very well, which we did.
You could see everyone was buzzing from the first minute. Everybody from the first minute to the last minute gave everything they had, even those who came on from the bench.
This form can be sustainable because it’s hard work, belief and determination. The group are together working towards one goal.
I’m not saying we’re not going to lose games – sometimes we will. But we are sticking together, fighting together, and our belief is there. I think we have what it takes to do even better than we are doing now.
Ighalo and Bruno Fernandes both signed for United on transfer deadline day in January
It’s not my first time playing with Bruno. I played with him at Udinese back in 2010.
He’s a great player. He has vision. He’s the guy who wants the ball because he can do something fantastic with it if you give him space. He’s a good passer of the ball and he’s what this team needs to score goals.
You’re still going to see more and better from him because he is still getting used to the Premier League. When he’s finally settled Bruno Fernandes is going to do well in this team.
Before I came here I knew Manchester United were looking at him and I was hoping they would get him because he is a good player and I knew he was going to change the dynamic of the team.
He’s not going to have the best game every time but what he is going to bring to the team is going to be unbelievable.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun believes the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF) will set a new benchmark for future editions of the multi-sports event.
Apart from being the first host state to house all participating athletes under one roof, the Governor assured contingents, spectators, and residents of maximum security during the NSF, which will take place in Ogun State from May 16 to 30.
During a parley with journalists in Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun highlighted that Babcock University has been chosen as the games village.
Over 10,000 athletes and officials will compete at the games in Ogun State. The Governor also named former Green Eagles captain, Segun Odegbami, as Grand Sports Ambassador, emphasising the state’s readiness to break new ground with the sporting fiesta, which has revitalised all its sporting facilities.
“As the Gateway State, we want to set the pace for others to follow. For the first time in NSF history, all participating athletes and officials will be accommodated under one roof, just like it is done globally. They will be well catered for, with high standards of security and safety. Shuttle buses will convey athletes to their venues daily, and we will ensure the roads are clear for them during the games. We are excited to host the NSF and aim to make Gateway 2024 a benchmark for future games because, as the Gateway State, we want to lead while others follow,” the Governor said.
Abiodun also mentioned that the state government would use this opportunity to build a sports economy for the state. “Ogun’s business circle will experience a bumper harvest during the event, with major hotels fully booked and petty traders making brisk business,” he said.
If the grassroots development of Nigerian sports is to be actualized, the private sector would play a pivotal role. The Chairman of National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko said while speaking at the grand finale of the MTN Champs Season 3 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium Uyo on Friday.
The NSC Chairman commended the organisers, partners, and participants of the MTN Champs for their outstanding contributions to the growth of academicals and grassroots athletics in Nigeria.
His words, “The MTN Champs is a shinning example of how private sector collaboration can drive youth development and sports excellence across the country. Mr. President places so much premium on grassroots development of sports. You will see this in the fact that he appointed an SSA on Grassroots Sports Development. That is why we are very deliberate in ensuring that sports are developed right from the grassroots. We are aggressively pursuing the revival of our school sports. It is a mandate that we must carry out.
“Over the years, we have had issues with our conveyor belt of talents. That is why we find it hard to replace ageing talents. We have set out to ensure that there is regular supply of talents from the grassroots. We can’t do this alone without the involvement of the private sector. This is why I must commend MTN for their consistency in this project. This is really the way to go. I am sure that the talents discovered here will serve this nation in a long while to come. We need more of such initiatives. Kudos to MTN.”
He noted that the MTN Champs aligns perfectly with the Commission’s RHINSE strategic framework, which prioritises results, holistic development, Inclusion, nationwide impact, sustainability, and engagement in all sports development initiatives.
“The MTN Champs has demonstrated the transformative power of education and grassroots sports programmes. It is a model of how strategic partnerships with the private sector can unearth young talents, inspire communities, and contribute meaningfully to national development,” Mallam Dikko stated.
The NSC Chairman reiterated the Commission’s commitment to supporting similar initiatives that align with the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigerian Sports (RHINSE) framework, particularly those focused on creating structured pathways for young athletes to grow into elite performers while receiving education and life skills training.
He further reiterated NSC’s commitment and objectives to provide all the enablers to drive grassroots sports and creating a professional pathway for growth as evidenced with the NSC introduction of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) to compete at the 22nd National Sports Festival, Ogun State under the sponsorship of the commission as the 38th State and the ongoing collaboration with Federal Ministry of Education towards the revival of school sports.
Mallam Dikko applauded MTN Nigeria for setting a commendable template for corporate participation in sports and encouraging other private sector organisations to emulate this example by investing in sustainable developmental sports programmes that empower Nigerian youths and promote national unity.
The NSC Chairman was joined by the Chief Finance Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Modupe Kadiri, the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah and other dignitaries
The MTN Champs, in its 3rd season, a nationwide school and grassroots athletics competition, witnessed widespread participation from students across Nigeria and served as a platform to identify and nurture the next generation of champions.
On the sidelines of the programmes, the NSC Chairman engaged with MTN executives on further areas of possible collaboration between the two organisations in the advancement of sports in Nigeria. Subsequently MTN reaffirmed its commitment to continued support of the sector.
Court documents obtained by our correspondent reveal that Omo-Agege’s lawsuit, filed on Monday, names the National Sports Commission, International Olympic Committee, Nigeria Olympic Committee, Rtd. General Kenneth Minimah, Mr. Akinyele Oladapo, World Boxing, and the Board of Nigeria Boxing Federation as defendants in the case.
The legal action primarily challenges the controversial affiliation with World Boxing, which Omo-Agege claims was executed without proper consultation with stakeholders and board members.
In the nine-point suit, Omo-Agege seeks several declarations, including that “the inclusion of Nigeria Boxing Federation as a member of World Boxing by the defendants is illegal, void, and not in compliance with the Articles of Association of Nigeria Boxing Federation, and therefore Nigeria Boxing Federation still remains a member of International Boxing Association.”
The interim president also asked the court to declare that Minimah “is no longer the president of Nigeria Boxing Association, parading himself as the president of Nigeria Boxing Association after being suspended by the International Boxing Association and already completing his tenure.”
A key component of the lawsuit is Omo-Agege’s claim that the November 11, 2023 meeting that led to his suspension was “illegal, null and void and all decisions made in the said meeting are invalid and inconsequential.” He maintains that as the former vice president, he became the rightful interim president when Minimah’s tenure expired.
The plaintiff is seeking “an order of mandatory injunction restraining the 4th defendant (Minimah) from further parading himself as the President of Nigerian Boxing Federation” and “an order of perpetual injunction restraining World Boxing from further naming Nigeria Boxing Federation as one of its members.”
Additionally, the lawsuit asks the court to order all defendants to recognise Omo-Agege as the interim president of the federation.
The legal action comes just days after the African Boxing Confederation officially lifted Omo-Agege’s suspension in a formal letter dated April 26, signed by AFBC Interim Secretary General Yohannes Brehane.
“The African Boxing Confederation is writing to formally inform you that, during its Board of Directors meeting held on February 9, 2025, the matter of your suspension was reviewed and resolved. The Board has decided to lift your suspension with immediate effect,” the letter stated.
In the court documents, Omo-Agege alleges that the move to World Boxing “was as a result of the International Olympic Committee’s pressure through the NOC by the machination of World Boxing.”
He claims that a letter was written to all African federations “mandating all International Boxing Federations across the world, especially Africa, to withdraw their membership from the International Boxing Association and join World Boxing as members.”
The factional leadership has significantly affected Nigeria’s boxing performance, with athletes expressing concerns about preparation and administration.
The lawsuit also contains allegations of financial misconduct, claiming that “monies belonging to the NBF have been expended fraudulently” by Minimah and Oladapo, including partial payment of athletes’ allowances and diversion of funds to private accounts.
The case, which has been filed through the law firm of Karina Tunyan (SAN) & Co, is expected to further complicate matters for Nigerian boxing, which has already struggled with administrative challenges affecting athlete preparation and performance at international competitions.
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