When Odion Ighalo scored his first Manchester United goal against Club Brugge, after unselfish play from Juan Mata, the joy was palpable, especially on social media.
Nearly every football-loving Nigerian had been waiting for that moment, and it came in the 34th-minute of what was to be a comfortable 5-0 win against 10 men at Old Trafford.
The first Nigerian to play for #MUFC u2705
The first Nigerian to score for #MUFC u2705
ud83cuddf3ud83cuddec @IghaloJude u2764ufe0f pic.twitter.com/oyM4ZCAE8U— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 27, 2020It should have come earlier too: against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the forward missed a one-on-one shortly after his introduction, which was stopped by Willy Caballero‘s legs, before failing to convert from a tight angle against old side Watford on Sunday, after Adam Masina diverted his left-footed shot on to the post.