AL HILAL striker Odion Ighalo has slammed critics who have questioned his inclusion in the Super Eagles squad for this month’s Qatar 2022 World Cup playoffs against Ghana.

Ighalo makes a return to the squad for the game against the Black Stars after his former club Al Shabab refused to release him for the recent Africa Cup of Nations Cup in Cameroon.

Ighalo who took his tally to five in six appearances for the club since he joined from Al Shabab in January – 18 goals in 25 appearances for both Al Shabab and his current club (Al Hilal) told ESPN that he remains unperturbed by the rants of the Eagles fans.

“I don’t pay attention to that. Everything they’re saying is their own cup of tea. At my age, I just signed for a new team. This is my 11th team in my professional career.

“I have been called up, I will take my bag and I will go to represent my country and give my best on 100 pere cent.

“As long as I come out from every game and I’m satisfied with my performance — whether it is a win, loss, or draw — then that’s it. I’m a professional footballer.

“This is what I’ve been doing for 17-18 years so why would I be worried about what people say?”

He also remains optimistic the Eagles will qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup though he was quick to admit that with won’t be easy.

“You know the rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana,” Ighalo said

The League Management Company has fined Kano Pillars the sum of N2.5m and banished them to play their home games at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina over their failure to provide adequate security during their matchday 16 fixture at the Ahmadu Bello stadium in Kaduna on Wednesday.

The four-time league champions were found to have breached the league’s framework for failing to provide adequate security during their last home league game in Kaduna.

Pillars had been playing away from home in Kaduna but will now have to move further away due to the punishment. The club who were given 48 hours to appeal the LMC judgement in a statement signed by their media officer Idris Malikawa says the club have received the judgement in good faith.

The Sai Masu Gida breached B13.52, B13.18, B8.21 and C1.1 of the Frameworks and Rules of the NPFL.

The LMC in a letter dated March 4, and signed by the Chief Operating Officer of the body, Salihu Abubakar, have informed the Katsina State Football Association of Pillar’s punishment.

“As part of corrective measures taken by the LMC on Kano Pillars following the unfortunate incident of last Wednesday, Kano Pillars matches have been moved to the Ahmadu Dikko Stadium Katsina.”

In the same vein, the LMC has warned Enyimba head coach George Finidi against making disparaging comments to the media which could bring disrepute to the league. He’s been asked to desist from such comments in the future.

The Enyimba gaffer who was displeased with the performance of the centre referee in their 1-0 loss to Heartland FC in the Oriental Derby on February 26.

Sadiq Mane’s solitary goal on Saturday against West Ham helped Liverpool cut the gap between them and table-toppers Manchester City to just three points.

The winning strike from Mane came in the 27th minute off an assist from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

While the goal by Mane is his 11th in the EPL this season, Alexander-Arnold has now provided 16 assists in all competitions this season for Liverpool.

This is his best return in a campaign in his career, overtaking the 15 he achieved in both 2018-19 and 2019-20

The Reds’ 11th victory in 12 matches across all competitions, and a seventh on the spin in the league has further increased the pressure on City ahead of Sunday’s derby with Manchester United.

Other Saturday games

In the other Saturday games, Newcastle United continued their blistering run in the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Brighton – their fifth victory in six games.

Ryan Fraser and Fabian Schar struck for the Magpies and even though Seagulls skipper, Lewis Dunk, reduced the arrears, it was not enough to deny Eddie Howe’s men the maximum points on the card

Newcastle’s day was made even better as a host of clubs in the relegation battle dropped points in their matches

Elsewhere, Ivan Toney hit a hat-trick to hand Brentford their second victory this year in the EPL as they overpowered bottom club Norwich City 3-1 at Carrow Road.

Aside from the three points, another high point for the Bees would be Christian Eriksen playing the entire 90 minutes.

The Denmark international took another positive step in his remarkable recovery after his cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 last summer.

Not just making up the numbers, Eriksen had a hand in the first two goals as his acquisition is beginning to pay off.

Aston Villa built on a win at Brighton last week by thrashing Southampton 4-0 at Villa Park. Ollie Watkins and Douglas Luiz gave Villa a two-goal lead at half-time.

The result was wrapped up as Philippe Coutinho and Danny Ings struck within two minutes of one another in the second half.

Crystal Palace picked up just a third away league win under Patrick Vieira with a 2-0 success at Wolves.

Jean-Philippe Mateta broke the deadlock, with Wilfried Zaha slotting home a penalty on 34 minutes to secure the win.ⓘ

Despite holding Chelsea to a barren draw in the first 45 minutes, Burnley crumbled like a pack of cards in the second half; losing 4-0 at home to Thomas Tuchel’s men.

Reece James set the tone after breaking the deadlock a few minutes after the restart.

Two quickfire goals from Kai Havertz saw Chelsea cruising away before Christian Pulisic with the easiest of finishes from barely a yard out wrapped off the big win.

On the night the Super Eagles’ provisional list for the two-match World Cup play-off with Ghana was released, first choice goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye was hit on his head by missile thrown by a fan during a Dutch league match involving his club, Sparta Rotterdam and Vitesse.

Trouble began when Okoye’s club Sparta took the lead after five minute. Then in the 63^rd minute, Okoye saved a penalty kick which angered a Vitesse fan who sneaked into the pitch to attack Okoye.

Okoye was able to outmuscle the fan that was whisked away by the security. By the time the Nigerian first choice goalkeeper got back to his goal line, he was hit on his face by a bottle thrown from the stands.

At this point, the match was abandoned. The KNVB, football governing body in The Netherlands, is investigating the incident through its disciplinary committee.

 “The investigation will focus on the question of guilt for the incident,” the KNVB said.

The disciplinary committee will decide what to do with the remainder of the match.

The board has three options here. The intermediate score (0-1) becomes the final score, the match must be continued from the moment of abandonment or the match must be replayed in its entirety.

Nigeria’s goal scorer, Chibuzor Ehilegbu contests the ball with Ghana’s legendary player, Abdul Razak

As the count up to the World Cup play-off of Ghana and Nigeria continues, it is on this date 38 years ago that Nigeria shocked the Africa Cup of Nations’ defending champions, Black Stars of Ghana with a 2-1 defeat in the Group B duel of the 1984 edition.

After a dismal performance by the Nigerian side at the 1982 edition in which the then Green Eagles, as defending champions did not go beyond the group stage and had to struggle to qualify for the 1984 edition, Ghana were expected to make a mince meat of the Nigerians.

It was not to be! Henry Nwosu opened scoring in the 13^th minute to shock the Ghanaians. The Black Stars levelled up seven minutes later through Samuel Opoku N’ti.

But in the 32^nd minute, Chibuzor Ehilegbu scored the second goal that game Nigeria a surprise 2-1 win  over the defending champions, in the match played at the Stade Municipal, Bouake.