Man United fans vote Ighalo’s goal as Europa League favourite

NIGERIAN striker Odion Ighalo is still a fan favourite at Manchester United even after leaving the club at the end of January.

The former Super Eagles star spent one year on loan at Old Trafford from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua and joined Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia in February.

When Manchester United put up a poll on Thursday asking their fans to vote for their favourite goal in the UEFA Europa League last season, one of Ighalo’s goals got more than half of the votes.

The goal in question was scored away at Austrian club LASK in March 2020 when United won the first leg round of 16 clash 5-0.

The goal caused a huge buzz back then, its execution earning Ighalo many new admirers. He collected the ball on the edge of the box in the midst of several LASK defenders and juggled it three times before volleying it into the net with his weaker left foot.

United nominated four goals — from last season’s Europa League campaign where they reached the semi-finals — in a Twitter poll to their over 20 million followers and asked them to choose their favourite.

Apart from Ighalo’s strike, Anthony Martial’s goal against Partizan, Scott McTominay’s goal against Club Brugge and Fred’s goal against Club Brugge were also nominated.

At the conclusion of voting, Ighalo’s goal was the overwhelming favourite with 62 percent of the votes. Martial got 20 percent, McTominay 13 percent and Fred 5 percent.

Ighalo scored five goals and had one assist in 23 appearances for Manchester United.