Referee booked Ighalo for ‘thanking Jesus’

Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, said he was booked during Friday’s clash with Cameroon because he publicly displayed a religious message on his shirt in goal celebration.

The 28-year old was shown a yellow card by Egyptian referee Ghead Grisha in the 30th minute after he scored the opening goal to inspire the 4-0 thumping of the Cameroonians in Uyo.

FIFA bans any unsanctioned political, religious or commercial messages on shirts, and Nigeria may be fined for running foul of the rules if the incident is included in the match report.

“He told me that the message on my shirt was about religion because it’s ‘thank you Jesus’,” Ighalo told ESPN.

Read Also: Eagles set to battle Cameroon, again

The Changchun Yatai star was replaced in the second half of the game by Kelechi Iheanacho afterpicking up an injury.

“It was just a tight hamstring, but I am fine now,” Ighalo said.

Technical Adviser, Rohr, has however insisted he will wait until the very last minute before deciding on whether his talisman should play in Monday’s encounter.

Nigeria will play Cameroon in Yaounde in the reverse fixture of the FIFA World Cup qualifier today (Monday).

 

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